254 Fresh Water Aquarium 



under stones and under the loose bark of 

 fallen and decaying trees. These little efts 

 are quite common in some localities, where 

 after a warm rain they will leave their hiding 

 places in such numbers as literally to swarm 

 over the ground, to disappear just as quickly 

 and mysteriously, if the hot sun comes out 

 or if the ground begins to dry. Although 

 perfectly harmless, the Red Newt has a bad 

 reputation in some parts of the country, be- 

 ing considered poisonous and therefore 

 avoided or destroyed. It is very peculiar 

 that this eft, if placed in the aquarium, will 

 thrive very well and become aquatic in every 

 respect, but gradually its color will fade, un- 

 til it resembles, or practically becomes a D. 

 viridescens in color and habit, so that we 

 may well ask if the D. miniatus is a species 

 or simply the product of circumstances. 

 While the latter seem i plausible, the fact 

 that the young after their metamorphosis, 

 voluntarily leave the water to live on land 

 points to its being a species. It has also 



