NEWTS. 



33 



duced into the circulatory system by a small wound is a very 

 active poison, and causes certain death to the smaller animals. 

 This species is found in most parts of Europe, but not in the 

 British Islands. 



The Black Salamander, Triton alpestris, has no spots ; it is found 

 on the highest European mountains, in the regions of snow, and 

 principally on the highest Alps. 



Newts, or Aquatic Salamanders, have not a round conical tail 

 like the terrestrial species, but have that appendage compressed or 

 flattened laterally. The males (during the breeding season only) are 



Fig. 10.— Newts, or Aquatic Salamanders. 



recognised chiefly by the membranous serrated ridge or crest which 

 extends along the whole length of the back, from the head to 

 the extremity of the tail, as represented in Fig. 10. Newts are 

 highly aquatic ; they are found in ditches, marshes, and ponds, 

 which after the breeding season they leave for moist places on ' 

 land, often then finding their way into drains and cellars. They 

 are carnivorous, feeding upon different insects and on the spawn 

 of Frogs, not even sparing individuals of their own species. The 

 females deposit their eggs singly, fixing them on the under sur- 

 face of the leaves of aquatic plants. " Some Newts," says Pro- 

 fessor Owen, " deposit their eggs upon aquatic plants, such as 

 Polygonum persicaria, folding the leaf by means of the hind feet 



