COMMON SMOOTH NEWT OR EFT. 157 



in strings of from four to six about the roots of 

 aquatic plants, and that such ova he has hatched* 

 Our own observations confirm those of Mr. 

 Kinahan, as we have seen them deposited in 

 similar strings or chains, on stones, &c., but 

 have never attempted to preserve or place them 

 in conditions for hatching. Three of the species 

 of newt herein recorded are said to be inhabitants 

 of Ireland, and of these the present species is 

 most common. The warty newt is more doubt- 

 ful, and the palmate d newt was found by Mr. 

 Thompson in the western wilds. There is no 

 doubt that all are condemned to death as soon 

 as they meet the eye of a thorough-going Irish- 

 man. 



In a paper by Mr. Kinahan, read before the 

 Dublin Natural History Society (Feb. 10, 1854), 

 the superstitions regarding these reptiles hold 

 a conspicuous place. "In almost every part of 

 the country we find these animals," he says, 

 " looked on with disgust and horror, if not with 

 dread. This arises from two superstitions : one 

 of them, common to great part of Ireland, 

 relating chiefly to the animal in its aquatic state, 

 and which in the county of Dublin has earned 

 for it the names of Man-eater and Man-keeper ; 

 though the dry ask of the county of Dublin that 

 is, the animal in its terrestrial stage is supposed 

 to be equally guilty with the first-mentioned in 



