18 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



At first it was no easy task to find enough worms small enough 

 for them to swallow, but this difficulty gradually disappeared as 

 they grew bigger. 



When first born the young Salamander has a long fish-like 

 body, but after a few weeks it grows stouter, and becomes more 

 distinct from the tail. 



These little creatures are very clever at concealing them- 

 selves, taking advantage, for this purpose, of the smallest 

 shadows cast by such objects as weeds, stones, &c, and are very 

 fond of lying close alongside some stone or bit of brick, or, if 

 possible, partly under it ; acting, in this respect, exactly as the 

 Common Stone Loach does. 



On July 2nd I noticed that some of them were beginning to 

 acquire the adult colouring, both colour and markings, however, 

 being at first indistinct, and only suggested, as it were. In fact, 

 it is not until they have left the water, and entered upon a more 

 or less terrestrial life, that the brilliant black and yellow livery 

 is perfected. The change of form from the tadpole to the adult 

 state is rapidly accomplished. The eyes of these creatures 

 during the larval stage of existence are quite small and incon- 

 spicuous, but after undergoing their change these organs become 

 large, black, and shining, as in full-grown examples. In spite 

 of the small size of the eyes, however, these tadpoles are 

 remarkably adroit in catching their very nimble prey. 



For some days after coming on land the young Salamanders 

 took no notice of worms placed before them, but would occa- 

 sionally go into the water and feed rapidly on the small living 

 creatures it contained, snapping right and left at those which 

 passed within reach. They did not, however, remain in the 

 water long. 



On July 16th two more young Salamanders took to the land, 

 and at that date only two were left in the water as tadpoles. On 

 the 29th one of the latter was resting at the bottom of the bowl, 

 and a small water-beetle about one-fourth of the size of a lady- 

 bird was rushing! wildly about, going at a great pace. The tad- 

 pole made a lightning-like grab at it as it swept past, and caught, 

 but almost immediately let it go again. 



On July 20th one young Salamander measured two inches in 

 length. 



