CASTING THE SKIN. 67 



" It was the legs," said he, shuddering, " those 

 dreadful legs. I don't mind getting bitten, or stung, 

 but I can't stand legs." 



Newts are very interesting animals, though they 

 have legs, and can easily be kept in a tank if fed 

 properly. Little red worms seem to be their 

 favourite food, and the newt eats them in a rather 

 peculiar style. I have had numbers of newts of all 

 sizes and in all stages of their growth, and always 

 found them eat the worm in the same way. As the 

 worm sank through the water, the newt would swim 

 to it, and by a sudden snap seize it in the middle. 

 For nearly a minute it would remain with the worm 

 in its mouth, one end protruding from each side of 

 its jaws. Another snap would then be given, and 

 after an interval a third, which generally disposed of 

 the worm. 



When they have been swimming freely in a large 

 pond, I have often seen large newts attack the 

 smaller, and try to eat them ; but I never saw the 

 attempt successful, though I hear that they have been 

 seen to devour the younger individuals. They always 

 came from behind, as if trying to avoid observation, 

 and then made a sudden dart forward, snapping at 

 the tail of their intended victim. In confinement I 

 never saw even an attempt at cannibalism. 



Whether it is invariably the case I cannot say, 

 but every newt that I took cast its skin within a few 

 hours from the time that it was placed m the glass 



