SCHOOL EQUIPMENT AND ITS MANAGEMENT. 329 



Newts. If these cannot be conveniently obtained out of 

 doors in the school neighbourhood, they may be obtained 

 at a small cost from naturalist dealers. Newts should be 

 kept in a fairly large vessel containing water with a muddy 

 or sandy bottom. A quantity of moss should be placed 

 in the water. This must be so arranged that the newts 

 can swim in the water or leave it and creep amongst the 

 moss at will. A moderately sized flat stone, on which the 

 animals can rest out of the water, is also useful. In the 

 same vessel may be kept a few water beetles, but in all 

 cases overcrowding must be avoided (Fig. 174 1 ). 



Feed the newts by placing from time to time a few 

 tadpoles in the water. Watch how the slow-moving newt 

 stalks and eventually captures its youthful and much more 

 active relative. When tadpoles are not available the 

 newts may be fed upon a small (live) earthworm. Dangle 

 quietly the worm over the snout of the newt ; if hungry it 

 will seize it. Should the worm not be taken after a 

 reasonable interval do not leave it in the water ; take it 

 away and try again the following day. Guard against 

 overfeeding, and do not allow dead flesh of any sort to lie 

 long in the jar. If water beetles are present, these will 

 attack such flesh, but the presence of much material of 

 this kind must be avoided. A few examples of the so- 

 called fresh-water shrimp (Gammarus) might also find a 

 place in this jar, especially if the bottom is at all muddy. 



Frogs' Spawn, Tadpoles. In the spring a dish of frogs' 

 spawn and another of toads' should be obtained. Spawn 

 keeps well in a shallow dish such as an enamelled basin or 

 pie-dish shape, of size about 12" x 8". Some water weed, 

 e.g. duck weed (Lemna minor) or starwort, should be placed 

 in the vessel. The spawn should be kept in a moderately 

 warm place and in a good light. In its early stages it 

 may be given direct sunlight for a shoj-t time daily. It 

 must of course not be neglected so as to become dry. The 

 hatched embryos may be left in this dish until they become 

 free swimming tadpoles requiring to be fed. Then they 

 may be removed to a taller vessel with a muddy bottom 

 containing pond water rich in minute vegetable and animal 



