NEWTS 



31 



leaf by means of the hind feet in such a way that its under-surface is 

 turned inwards and the fold made to stick by the adhesive coating 

 of the egg, which she inserts in the fold." The young are hatched 

 fifteen days after. These animals give utterance to a very peculiar 

 noise, and when touched emit a disagreeable odour. 



It has been ascertained that Newts can live for a long time, not 

 only in very cold water, but even in the midst of ice, being some- 

 times taken in blocks of ice which are formed in the ditches and 

 ponds which they inhabit. When the ice-flakes melt they seem to 



Fig. 10.— Newts, or Aquatic Salamanders. 



awaken from their torpor, and betake themselves to their accus- 

 tomed movements uninjured from their previous loss of liberty. 

 Lacepede states that he found Aquatic Salamanders during summer 

 in pieces of ice obtained from the ice-dealers, where they had 

 remained without movement or nourishment from the time in which 

 they had been enclosed. 



Newts present another remarkable feature in the facility with 

 which Nature repairs any mutilations they may have undergone. Not 

 only do their tails grow again when broken off, but even their feet 

 are reproduced in the same manner • and the process may be many 

 times repeated. 



