BRITISH AMPHIBIANS 
It spends about a fourth of the year in water, and during 
hibernation several adults—evidently firm believers in 
the old motto that “ union is strength ”—may be found 
clinging together. ‘The young, however, seem to prefer 
solitary confinement, passing the torpid state in any 
convenient retreat out of harm’s way. 
Newts, it should be noted, never seize their prey un- 
less it is in motion, and in capturing same they display, 
as has already been noted, very considerable agility and 
cleverness. ‘They have four fingers on each of the front 
pair of limbs, and five toes on each of the hind ones. 
They possess moveable eyelids, palatal teeth as well as in 
the jaws, and flat tails. This latter in spite of the fact 
that they are cousins of the well-known Salamanders 
which have round extremities. 
The serrated dorsal crest of the male Great Water 
Newt is a characteristic feature, and many specimens 
of this large species fall a prey to the young angler in 
Spring when, without hook or even bent pin, these 
creatures are caught by line and worm only, as once a 
Newt has firmly seized the tempting bait, it can easily 
be pulled ashore. The poor captives are often confined 
in small glass bottles which are all light and no shade, 
and they must often experience a sad time of it unless, 
as happens, they can at a favourable opportunity make 
good their escape. It seems strange that those of us 
who are always on the look-out for these things rarely 
come across Newts in their hibernating quarters, or 
making their way to or from the water. Occasionally 
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