182 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 
Eft is merely a phase of the common Newt, but it is an interesting 
case of adaptation to environment. 
Few observers who have visited mountainous places in the 
eastern United States have failed to notice in the damp woods 
the brilliant red “lizards”? slowly making their way over the 
carpet of fallen leaves. Among residents of the country places 
they are known as Red Efts, Fire “ Lizards” and Rain “ Lizards.” 
These are not lizards, but they are batrachians, and they repre- 
sent a form of the common Newt that has seemingly tired of the 
water and begun a terrestrial existence. The animals vary in 
cclor from dull brown to brilliant vermilion. Rows of red dots 
FIG. 15. THE RED EFT, OR MOUNTAIN “ LIZARD” 
From specimen in New York Zodlogical Park 
are very apparent on the brown forms, while on the vermilion 
forms they are less distinct, but can be discerned as richer red, 
bordered with narrow circles of black. The brown specimens are 
forms that have left the water but a short time; those of the 
brilliant red hues have for some time been leading a terrestrial 
life. During dry weather the Red Efts hide under leaves and 
moss: after the summer showers they issue from their hiding- 
places to swarm through the woods. 
In mountain ponds in the heart of districts where the red 
form is very abundant, the aquatic adults may be found swarm- 
ing in the water. If the latter are taken from the water and 
kept in damp moss or among leaves, they lose their greenish tints 
and the smooth appearance of the skin, becoming dull brown and 
