THE NEWT. 77 



passes by far the greatest part of its time in the water, 

 should be formed on a more fish-like model than is 

 needful for the Frog, which passes the greater part of 

 its time on the land, though the water is a perfectly 

 familiar element to it, and it can propel itself nearly as 

 fast, though not so gracefully, as does the Newt, the 

 one advancing by a series of intermittent strokes from 

 the webbed hind feet, while the other undulates rapidly 

 and steadily, after the manner of the fish, being pro- 

 pelled by the sinuous movement of the flattened and 

 flexible body. 



We will begin with the Newt, as an example of a 

 water trespasser which passes most of its time in the 

 water, though it can live and travel upon land. 



One of these singularly pretty creatures is repre- 

 sented in the central figure upon Cut 3. In common 

 with the Frog and Toad, both of which are seen upon 

 the same illustration, it begins its active life as a 

 fish, carrying on respiration by means of gills, and 

 ends it as a reptile that breathes atmospheric air 

 by means of lungs. So that we have before our 

 eyes one of the most astonishing arcana of Nature, 

 examples of which may be found any day by any one 

 who will take the trouble to look for them. As the 

 space of this work is but limited, it will be necessary 

 to give but a very brief description of this remarkable 

 modification of structure, as exemplified in the Newts, 

 Frogs, and Toads. 



The egg is deposited in the water, like that of a 

 fish, and when the young is hatched it has gills con- 

 structed on precisely the same plan as those of the fish, 

 except that they are outside instead of inside the head, 



