BRITISH AMPHIBIANS 



along the side of his prominent caudal appendage. The 



length obtained is about 3 J inches. The female slightly 



exceeds this measurement. 



Palmated Newt. — Triton palmatus (Figs. 25 and 26). 



Also known as the Webbed Newt by reason of the webbed 



toes of the male. It is the rarest of the three British 



species, and although it is found in Scotland, it is absent 



from Ireland. In haunts, breeding season, food, and 



habits it closely resembles others of its race, though a 



single egg is separately deposited in a green envelope 



made by forming a sheath from the leaf of an aquatic 



plant. This tailed amphibian as it may be called is, 



like its two other relatives, of nocturnal habits, resting 



by day, feeding by night. It is very tenacious, and if 



frozen under, or even in the ice, emerges none the worse 



for its adventure. If, too, during prolonged drought 



their breeding pond becomes dried up, they have the 



power of sustaining life until such time as rain or flood 



rescues them from their muddy bed. What perhaps is 



still more remarkable, they have the habit of reproducing 



a limb if one, or more, should be lost. In Newts there 



is no actual union between the male and female, as the 



latter seizes the receptacles containing the spermatozoa 



produced by the male, and transfers them to her own 



reproductive chamber. In swimming, Newts make free 



use of the all-important tail, hence its full development 



and retention all through life. The dress is brown, or 



olive above, spotted with darker colour on the body, and 



streaked on the head. The under parts, if an orange 

 48 



