THE NEWTS. 315 



The tadpoles are darker in hue than those of the frog. 

 Save for the purpose of spawning, however, the toad lives 

 little by the water, hiding rather among the stones in 

 damp situations. It hibernates, like frogs, in the ground, 

 and often in companies. Lastly, it casts its transparent 

 slough more than once in the year, often swallowing it. 



Somewhat rarer, and apparently altogether wanting in 

 the Highlands, the Natterjack is distinguished from the 



larger toad by the light line down the centre 

 Natterjack. , & . , . r . ,. , .. . , 



of the back, in allusion to which it is known 



in some parts as " Golden Back." The hind-toes of this 

 toad, which is of far more active habits than the last, and 

 even indulges in something approaching a run, are not 

 deeply webbed; the hind-leg is short, and has a gland. 

 There are also the same small glands over the eye, which 

 is prominent, being plainly visible within the mouth, and 

 has three lids like those of the frog and toad. The warts 

 on the back are porous in both species. Like the fore- 

 going, this toad feeds on insects, and occasionally on 

 small mice. It is not of aquatic habits except during 

 the breeding season. The tadpoles are small, but develop 

 with remarkable rapidity. For some reason this has been 

 called the "Cornish toad." 



CHAPTER II. THE NEWTS. 



Our three newts are of terrestrial habits excepting in 

 the breeding-season, when they deposit their spawn in the 

 crumpled leaves of water-plants, and the young soon start 

 life as tadpoles. During the breeding season, too, as 

 already mentioned, the adults, the male more particularly, 

 put on extra ornaments in the shape of a crest, usually 



