102 



FEESH-WATEE AQUAEIA. 



the leaf upon the egg imtil the former is firmly stuck 

 around the latter. Sometimes, to make the matter surer, she 

 wiU take the leaf and egg within her mouth, and thus give 

 them a final pressure. The egg is very small, and is sur- 

 rounded with a glutinous substance. The leaf gradually 

 unfolds as the embryo of the future triton begins to grow, 

 rig. 83 represents the eggs in various stages of development, 

 and laid in the leaves of the Vernal Starwort. As soon as 



® 



Fig. 84. Metamorphoses op the Newt. 



the eggs are deposited they should be collected and placed 

 in a shallow aquarium or earthenware dish — the latter the 

 better. The vessel should be covered with a piece of glass 

 and put near a sunny window. The speed of hatching 

 depends upon light and temperature. Sometimes, under 

 favourable circumstances, the young tadpoles will be free 

 within twelve days after the eggs have been laid. It should 

 be arranged that the eggs have the heat of the sun vrithout 



