SIGNS OF SPRING 37 



much so as he can be. He is, at any rate, content. 

 But she does not seem to care much about it, and 

 soon moves off, only to be again pursued as eagerly 

 as before, and with the same resulting perform- 

 ance. Often three or four males will fan their 

 tails at the same female, who, however, does not 

 appear to be highly gratified thereby. 



Another curious feature in the organisation of 

 the newt is its power, in common with that of 

 frog and toad, to reproduce parts which have been 

 accidentally removed. Experiment has proved 

 that not only will amputated legs thus be renewed, 

 but also the tail, and even the lower jaw. I have 

 only seen one limb reproduced. This was a fore- 

 leg, accidentally cut off when the creature was 

 captured. Some two weeks later five little points 

 appeared on the wounded shoulder ; they increased 

 in size, and ultimately became a complete foot, 

 which grew on a sort of stalk, that finally became 

 a serviceable limb. 



To the suburban gardener one of the most 

 certain signs of spring, and a vexing one, is the 

 arrival of the bullfinch. Throughout summer and 

 winter this bird keeps to the hedges and coverts, 



