48 PHOTOGRAPHY FOR NATURALISTS. 



tail, and his tiny webbed feet, we find our subject afford 

 us ample scope for the exercise of photographic patience. 

 The great newt, though the most imposing in form, has, 

 in the writer's experience, proved the least interesting 

 sitter. The orange colour of the under surface of both 

 sexes is a most difficult one to render satisfactorily, even 

 with isochromatic plates. A screen is out of question, 

 owing to the prolongation of exposure, and so one is 

 reduced to supplying the deficiency on the negative by 

 the use of matt varnish or the stump. Apart from this, 

 however, which is after all merely a photographic diffi- 

 culty, the great newt seems to take his confinement to 

 heart much more than his smaller relations. The woe- 

 begone expression of the illustration is not really 

 natural to Triton cristalus, but rather the effect of his 

 environment. The expression of the other varieties 

 might almost be termed jolly by comparison. 



Hitherto we have dealt with the adult newt. It 

 must not be supposed that the photographer's task is 

 done when he has secured satisfactory pictures of the 

 adults of each variety. The metamorphosis of these 

 reptiles through egg and tadpole is photographically 

 possible, and of extreme interest. The tadpoles of the 

 smaller kinds are exceedingly difficult to photography 

 owing to their fragility, transparency, and smallness. 

 The student is advised to try conclusions with the tad- 

 pole of the great newt before he attempts those of the 

 other two species. 



Neither must the chance of a picture be passed 

 over, when, on the approach of autumn, the newt leaves 



