THE YOUNG NATURALIST 



51 



of this newt divesting itself of its cuticular covering, anil in a short time after 

 making a meal of it. 



The smooth newt, in common with the whole tribe, is the victim of many 

 superstitious notions, particularly in that reptile-hating country, Ireland. A 

 correspondent in that latter country writes to me thus :— " The newt (called. 

 " dark lewker " in Ireland) has several supernatural qualities ascribed to it, as 

 for instance, jumping down a person's throat if the mouth happens to open 

 in its presence, and then consuming all food swallowed by the patient till 

 the latter dies of a lingering decline. Like the salamander also it is said to 

 be able to stand fire/'' He writes asrain — " The meaning; of the word " dark 

 lewker " I do not know, but it is connected with the devil. The only remedy 

 (i.e. for newt in the stomach) is for the patient to go to running water, or 

 better still a dairy, the intruding reptile being unable to withstand the 

 temptation of a drink, particularly milk. The Donegal name for the nerct is 

 " man eater." He again writes — " I learn that a popular belief here is that 

 licking a newt three times is an infallible cure for a burn." 



The smooth newt is a great favourite with keepers of fresh water aquaria, 

 and few are complete without a pair of these graceful little creatures. 



In autumn they retire to hybernate, and are often found then and during 

 the winter months coiled in company under stones and similar places. I 

 once found a specimen of this little reptile in a torpid state under a heap of 

 rubbish. This was in October. Its colour was pale brown above and red 

 below, and it had a lively eye which was not closed. It made no movement 

 ment on being touched. 



The following is a description of the smooth newt. — The adult newt varies 

 in length from three to four inches. Its skin has no warts or tubercles like 

 cristatus, but is perfectly smooth, and it is by this means easily distinguished 

 from that species. The upper parts in the male are brown of varying shades, 

 spotted with black, and a light yellowish line runs under the eyes. The 

 underparts vary from yellowish to orange or even red, the latter colour being 

 chiefly noticeable hi the breeding season. The underside is likewise spotted 

 with black. The female, especially when on land, is a very different creature 

 from the male. Its colours are altogether duller and plainer, and the black 

 spots are few in number, and very indistinct. The smooth skin and smaller 

 size of this species easily distinguishes it from the warty species. The 

 difference between this and the other smooth newt, Lophinus palmatus, will 

 be pointed out when we come to that species. Not knowing anything of the 

 latter' s habits and distribution from personal observation, I should be glad 

 of any information respecting it from the readers or contributors of the 

 Young Naturalist, 



Standlake, Witney, Oxon. 



