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 

 soHtary 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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