94 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE, 
It will pay to remove the toad-spawn carefully, and put it into a 
pond where it can hatch unmolested, which is completed in June or 
July. . 
Toads in the neighborhood of ponds and gardens are a blessing, 
and should not, therefore, needlessly be exterminated. 
One of the natural enemies of the frog is the water-spider, which 
attacks the young in the eye and kills it. Although the water-spider 
has been repeatedly mentioned as a friend, it is not out of place to 
keep an eye on him, as he also frequently catches young fish. 
SALAMANDERS AND NEWTS. 
All the varieties of those tailed batrachians frequent the water in 
the spring, for the purpose of depositing their eggs or young — some 
being viviparous, In all the stages of their growth, from the tad- 
pole state to the perfect animal, these creatures are destructive to 
both the fish eggs and the young fish, they should therefore be kept 
out of the ponds. 
The newts spend their entire life in the water. In certain 
localities they may exist in such vast numbers that it is necessary to 
take especial precaution to keep them away. 
Neither of these creatures, however, is harmful to man, the larger 
varieties living in the river, such as the water-dog and the hell-bender, 
excepted, nor are any of them poisonous. 
They may, with perfect safety, be handled with the bare hand. 
As the season advances various other enemies, in addition to those 
already mentioned, make their appearance. Most particularly must 
a sharp lookout be kept for 
WATER SNAKES. 
These will be found concealed near the water’s edge, or in the 
corners of the several ponds. They lie hidden from view, the head 
