104 TEESH-WATEE AQTTAEIA. 



the aquai-mm-keeper will skilfully remove it from the water 

 by the help of a small camel's-hair brush, and place it 

 careftdly upon a sheet of white paper, he will find that 

 it makes a very interesting object: the skin will readily 

 adhere to the paper. When the newt is about to change its 

 skin, it will, as a rule, become sluggish, and lose its appetite. 

 It assists the operation by crawling between the weeds and 

 rockwork. Sometimes the triton will imitate the toad, and 

 make a meal of its late covering. 



As the autumn approaches, the newts, especially the Smooth 

 ones, will attempt to leave the aquarium. Their colouring 

 at this time becomes dull, and they lose a great deal of then- 

 activity and inquisitiveness. The island in the aquarium 

 should be provided with some hiding-places, which at this 

 season of the year will be taken possession of by the tritons. 

 In captivity they begin to hybernate about November. After 

 wintering in the aquarium, and as spring approaches, the 

 newts will slowly become active, and the males will gradually 

 develop their crests. 



Tritons while in confinement may be fed upon the Water- 

 Louse {Asellus aquations), tadpoles of frogs or toads, garden 

 worms, or pieces of meat either cooked or raw. The meat 

 should be cut in narrow slips. The newt is sometimes 

 guilty of cannibalism, especially when the Great Newt is 

 kept in the tank with the Sm.ooth one, and when the tadpoles 

 of any species of triton are allowed to remain with their 

 parents and older relatives. 



Tritons, in common with lobsters and other animals, have 

 the power of reproducing lost limbs. A Triton cristatus of 

 mine once climbed out of his own tank and fell into that 

 containing two young pike. When I found him in the 

 company of the fish I discovered that he had lost one of his 

 hind legs. I said I was sorry for him; but I do not think 

 I was very unhappy, for I had long been desirous of seeing 

 the reproduction of limbs, of which I had read and heard. 

 I placed the poor fellow in a small tank by himseK, fed 

 him carefully, and watched him attentively. In a short time 

 I was rewarded for my care by seeing a new limb gradually 



