BRITISH AMPHIBIANS 



Anglicised from the Saxon word " Efete," thus = an 

 " Efete," an " Ewfte," an " Ewt," a " Newt." 



Of the beUef still rife that pains in the stomach may be 

 caused by the afflicted person having swallowed the egg 

 of a Newt, and of cattle being made ill from a like cause, 

 mention need only be made as showing how natural 

 history is misunderstood and misinterpreted by the 

 masses who know little, and care less, about the wonders 

 of life. These silly superstitions and beliefs still obtain, 

 but may be dismissed as being equally ridiculous with 

 the Crocodile that sheds tears. 



ORDER EC AU DAT A, FAMILY RANIDM 



Common Frog. — Rana temporia (Figs. 9 to 18). This 

 familiar creature is known to country dwellers in its 

 various stages of existence from egg to tadpole, and from 

 tadpole to the perfect little amphibian. In spite, how- 

 ever, of the wonderful life-cycle being performed, as it 

 were, before our own eyes, one is bound to admit that 

 it is this very familiarity that breeds contempt. The 

 Frog's general unpopularity is, nevertheless, difficult to 

 explain, for lovers of wild nature should be able to 

 appreciate the lower as well as the higher forms of 

 creation, and to judge each accordingly. The bird 

 which sings from the elm-tree top, perchance that master- 

 38 



