100 FRESH-WATEE AQT7AEIA. 



female of the Smootli Newt (Fig. 82) is very similar to the 

 male in her markings. 



The Great Newt is shyer than the Smooth Newt. 



The Straight-lipped Newt [Triton Bibronii) is coloured some- 

 thing like the Great Newt, and its body is even more thickly 

 covered with warts than is that of its larger relative. The 



Fig. 82. Female Smooth Newt (Teiton punctatds). 



upper lip of this triton does not overhang like that of T. 

 cristatus, but is perfectly straight with the lower. This 

 species is rare. 



The Palmated Smooth Newt [Triton pal/mipes) is smaller 

 than the T. punctatus. The hind feet of the male are webbed. 

 The upper part of the body is of an olive-colour, and the 

 upper part of the head is a dark brown. The sides of the 

 body are light brown, speckled with round black spots. The 

 tail has a filajnent at the extremity about |in. in length. 



Newts may nearly always be found in ponds and ditches. 

 They can easily be caught, either by fishing with a worm or 

 by using a small hand-net. The fishing apparatus is very 

 simple, and consists of a walking-stick, a piece of thin string, 

 and a lively worm. One end of the string should be tied 

 round the centre of the worm and the other to the stick. 

 If the water is clear and a newt can be seen, the bait 

 should be dropped as close to the nose of the animal as 

 possible, and when he has taken the worm as far as the 

 string by which it is tied, the reptile may be gently lifted 

 upon the land. When the water is thick the fisherman must 

 Vatch the movement of the string. The hand-net, if a newt 

 cannot be seen, must be passed along the bottom of the 

 water and among the weed until the desired capture is 

 made. The best time to obtain the tritons is during the 



