62 OUT OF DOORS. 



is so hated by insects, and only open towards the south, 

 allowing the meridian rays of the sun to fall daily upon 

 it. So I fished in it for an hour or two, with a little net, 

 and found that my impression was true. It is absolutely 

 impossible, in so limited a space, to describe, or even to 

 mention, all the creatures which I found in that tiny 

 pond, but the following are some of the most character- 

 istic inhabitants of ' Mrs. Coates's Bath.' 



There were plenty of newts. Now, these are really 

 very pretty creatures, especially in the breeding season, 

 when the males put on their nuptial splendours. Like 

 many birds, they only assume their best dress for a 

 short period, and when that brief period is over, they 

 can scarcely be distinguished from their more sombre 

 mates. The chief and most conspicuous portion of the 

 nuptial dress of the male newt is a sort of fin which 

 runs along the back, and looks something like a cock's 

 comb. It is deeply notched and toothed at the upper 

 edge, and, as it is extremely delicate, it waves about in 

 the water in graceful accordance with the movements 

 of the animal. My little boy took some of these newts 

 home, and, in the innocence of his heart, showed them 

 to the gardener. The man was horribly frightened. 

 He jumped back and absolutely yelled with terror. He, 

 keeping at a safe distance from the dread beasts, told 

 the boy that * the efiet was the most pizenous thing as 

 is,' and that he had known lots of people lie down in 

 the grass at haymaking time, when they were bitten by 

 effets, and then they swelled up and went on swelling 



