ANIMALS FOR. 



39 



their tails continue (Fig. 1), and although they 

 lose their gills, they come to the surface of the 

 water to breathe. 



FIG. 1. 



We have two kinds of Newts, or Efts, in Great 

 Britain. The COMMON SMOOTH NEWT, EFT, or EVET 

 (Lissotriton punctatus), is the most frequent of the 

 two. There is scarcely a pond in Great Britain 

 where they may not be found, and they are every- 

 where regarded by school-boys as legitimate prey. 



FIG. 2. 



Although frequently thought to be poisonous, they 

 are perfectly harmless, and may be handled with 

 impunity. The engravings, Figs. 2 and 3, represent 

 the male and female of this species. In the spring 



FIG. 3. 



of , the year the male puts on a brilliant dress and 

 wears a crest upon his back (Fig. 2), which dis- 



