106 OUT OF DOORS. 



ness. However, undeterred by such fears, let us ex- 

 amine the pretty creature more closely. Being out of 

 the water, his beautiful crest is hardly visible, lying 

 loosely along the back like the folded wings of a bat. 

 See what lovely eyes the creature has, gleaming like 

 fiery topaz, and unrivalled except by the eye of the 

 toad. Put him down on the grass, and see how nimbly 

 he runs to the water, and how he darts off with a 

 powerful wriggle of his tail as soon as he finds himself 

 safe. You will not catch him again very easily, for he 

 has got a fright, and will take very good care of himself. 

 If you look very carefully upon the slender leaves of 

 the aquatic plant, you will probably find here and 

 there a delicate, translucent, oval-shaped object, shorter, 

 but thicker, than a grain of rice, but with the leaf 

 curiously knotted over it. This is the egg of the newt, 

 the tying of the leaf being performed by the forelegs 

 and a wonderful operation to see. There is much more 

 interesting history respecting this pretty reptile, but 

 other creatures are awaiting us, and we must pass on- 

 wards. I may just mention here that Mr. Knapp, in 

 his ' Journal of a Naturalist,' remarks that he has seen 

 the newts curiously encumbered with little bivalve 

 shells on which they have trodden, and which have 

 closed upon their unfortunate feet. 



EVENING is now drawing on; we retrace our steps 

 through the Lane, and a new set of beings have come 

 forth. The busy hum of insects has ceased, and the 



