AMPHIBIANS 463 



AMPHIBIA. 



Order BATRAGHIA URODELA. Fam. SALAMANDRIDjE. 



GEEAT CEESTED NEWT. 



Triton cristatus, Laur. 



This Triton is more local in Lakeland than in the south of 

 England, but I do not know that it can be termed uncommon 

 with us. It occurs in the neighbourhood of Carlisle and of 

 Appleby. I have not searched for it elsewhere. 



SMOOTH NEWT. 



Triton tceniatus (Schneid.). 



This Newt is common in the clay pits of brickfields and in 

 many of our ponds. It is an object of abhorrence to old- 

 fashioned country folk, who call it the 'Water Ask.' In 

 accordance with the traditions which are transmitted from one 

 generation to another in remote places, they believe this Newt 

 to be poisonous. 



Order BA TRA CHI A ANURA . Fam. B UFONIDM. 



COMMON TOAD. 



Bufo vulgaris, Laur. 



This Toad is often accredited with poisonous qualities by the 

 old wives of the fell villages. ' In my boyish days,' wrote the 

 late Dr. Gough, 'a poor toad . . . was subjected by rude 

 country lads to a barbarous sport called "spang-hewing " i.e. a 

 sudden blow upon a piece of wood on which the Toad was 

 placed, sent the reptile to a height of thirty or forty feet into 

 the air, the object being to rejoice over the harmless creature 

 falling stretched out dead upon the ground.' 1 



1 Personal Reminiscences of the Habits of Animals, p. 16. 



