94: 



REPTILES I3ATRACIIIANS DIAGRAM 5 



Newt. 



in ponds, and may be known by their naked skin, and by their 



belly, which is of a 

 fine orange colour. 

 The males have along 

 the back, but only in 

 spring, a crest jagged 

 like the teeth of a 

 saw. The young are also born in the shape of tadpoles. 



The salamander, which is not found in England, lives in damp 

 places, but does not like to go into the water. It is not much 

 larger than the newts, and may be known by its yellow 

 marblings on the black ground colour of its skin. It is an alto- 

 gether harmless animal like the newt, and we cannot tell where 

 the fable came from that it would not burn if put into the 

 fire. 



If we wish to keep batrachians alive, it is not necessary except 

 while they are in the tadpole state, to keep them constantly in 

 the water. To keep frogs, for instance, the best means is to put 

 them into a cage, or still better, under one of those covers of -ire 

 gauze which are used to preserve meat from flies. It will only 

 be necessary to put into the cage or under the cover a saucer full 

 of water for the frogs to bathe in sometimes. The best way to 

 feed them is to hang a little bag of maggots in the corner* of the 

 cage or cover, and the maggots will change into flies, and the 

 frogs will eat them. 



