CIRCULATION IN THE TAIL OF NEWT. 391 



or half-inch object-glass ; a higher power will be needed to show the 

 rhythm of the veins. 



In the common newt, as well as the frog, the circulation may be 

 viewed : the tail of the young animal being much used for this purpose, 

 and showing other interesting points of structure. 



fig. 184. TJie common smooth Newt : 



The warty newt is in a state of great activity early in spring. It is 

 common in ponds and large ditches, where it feeds upon the tadpole of 

 the common frog. The male and female newt are nearly the same in 

 appearance during winter ; but in spring a beautifully-cut crest rises 

 from the back of the male, which is highly ornamental. 



The manner in which the eggs are deposited is very interesting. 

 The female, selecting the leaf of some aquatic plant, sits, as it were, 

 upon its edge ; and folding it by means of her two hinder feet, deposits 

 a single egg in the duplicature of the folded part of the leaf, which is 

 thereby glued most securely together, and the egg is thus effectually 

 protected from injury. As soon as the female has in this way de- 

 posited an egg, she seeks another leaf, on which she deposits another 

 egg in the same manner and in this way she proceeds till she has de- 

 posited as many eggs as she requires. The egg is very slightly tinged 

 with buff, and is surrounded by a substance resembling the white of a 

 common egg, in which it keeps continually whirling round. It now 

 goes through nine changes from the egg till it becomes a perfect animal ; 

 and for a considerable time it remains in a tadpole state, almost like the 

 common frog. 



Newts are readily found in many of the ponds around London. 

 The watercress-gatherers meet with them in large numbers. 



FISH. 



It has often been observed, that we are surrounded by wonders 

 which we do not notice because they are of daily occurrence, but which 



