Woodside. 23 



warm days of spring rewaken and revivify it, and drive it 

 to its favourite pools again. 



It is called the "warty" newt to distinguish it from some 

 near relatives which have a smooth skin. When full-grown 

 it is about six inches long, and its skin is covered with warts 

 and pores. When young, the warty newt is very much like 

 its smoother relations, illustrating again the natural law that 

 the young of animals resemble more closely their oldest 

 ancestors, whilst the adults resemble their more immediate 

 progenitors ; hence we may safely assume that it is a species 

 of comparatively recent development, and that this has taken 

 place from the smooth species which represent the older forms. 



Well, we have spent a considerable time at this pond, and 

 there are many interesting things yet to see in it, but we 

 must not linger any longer now. A glance round the beautiful 

 park, and our resolution to move on is shaken, for our attention 

 is attracted by the hawthorns yonder. Large, regular trees, 

 some of them are covered now with masses of summer 

 snow, or clad in garb of brightest red. 



Who does not love the hawthorn ? Truly every healthy- 

 minded inhabitant of our great cities must ; for, are not the 

 tender green leaves which it puts forth in the first warm 

 days of spring, a sure harbinger of the speedy departure of 

 winter, a certain omen that Nature has awakened from her 

 long period of rest, that everything around us breathes of 

 progress, is pleasant and hopeful. Does not the hawthorn in 

 these early spring days 



" When rosy plumelets tuft the larch, 

 And rarely pipes the mounted thrush, 

 Or underneath the barren bush, 

 Flits by the sea-blue birds of March " 



