NOTES ON REPTILES, AMPHIBIA, AND FISH. 137 



that very brittle member gets broken, becomes still more 

 notable in tlie newts ; the loss of a limb, or even of an eye, 

 or a considerable portion of the head, being soon made good 

 by the growth of now parts. 



The tlireo British species of newts all occur in our dis- 

 trict. 



1. Triton cristahis, Great Water Newt. Tliis is a hand- 

 some species, attaining to six inches in length, and is fairly 

 common in ponds and ditches. 



The tadpoles arc extremely voracious. I have seen one 

 swallow a brother tadpole, nearly his own size, and swim 

 about with the latter's tail hanging out of his mouth. After 

 a while, however, the victim, possibly threatening indi- 

 gestion, was turned oat again — this new Jonah seeming none 

 the worse. 



2. Lophinus punctatus, the Smooth Newt. Very common in 

 every pond and ditch. The tadpoles of this species leave the 

 water as early as the end of July, having by this time lost 

 their gills, and being in fact miniatures of the adult ones, 

 about one inch in length. They then crawl about under 

 stones, and among grass, etc., in damp places ; liually 

 hybernating in an old atone wall, or similar place, sometimes 

 at a considerable distance from the water. 



3. Lophinus palm,atus, the Palmated Newt. This species is 

 said in Cooke's "Our Reptiles," to be local. Ho gives Edin- 

 burgh, Letton in Herefordshire, Bridgwater, and Uartmoutli, 

 as localities. I have found it fairly plentiful in the Somer- 

 setshire part of our district, and in ditches and ponds at 

 Keynsham. It is a pretty little species, and in the sprino- 

 the males are beautifully marked and crested. This species 

 spawns rather later than the preceding. 



The tadpoles resemble those of the preceding species, but 

 have a more distinct crest and a broader tail ; they also 



