NATURE NOTES 
190 
I have myself employed for a long time one of the areas 
used in many houses to admit light to the cellar windows. This 
area is freely open to the air above, yet from its depth affords 
shelter from sun and wind. A deep layer of moist gravel forms 
a natural carpet for the inmates to crawl about on and a hiding 
place for the worms as a temporary refuge. In the centre of the 
gravel is a deep pie dish, full of water, affording free swimming 
room for the animals, and ornamental rockwork may be placed 
with advantage round the dish to permit ready access to the 
water, the edge of the pie dish being raised about an inch above 
the surface of the gravel to prevent the animals from sweeping 
gravel into the dish when they enter the water. It is equally 
important to place a piece of slate to form a sloping gangway 
for animals wanting to leave the water, as I have found even 
such active swimmers as young frogs drowned in the water, 
having become exhausted by useless attempts to climb the 
slippery sides of the dish. A large stone or flat piece of slate 
is placed in one corner so that the animals may creep under 
for shelter from the rain. I have also used an old flower-pot 
with a piece broken out of the rim, and have often on lifting 
it found underneath a happy family of toads and newts, 
harmoniously blended into one contented, sprawling mass. 
Mustard and cress freely sown gives a fresh green appearance 
for a time, but soon grows yellow and dies, affording even in 
decay food for the slugs thrown in from time to time to feed the 
frogs. Galvanised wire netting stretched over the top keeps the 
area free from dead leaves, bits of paper and other rubbish 
thrown in from the road, while allowing for free circulation of 
air at the same time. 
In this place I kept for a considerable time a number of 
animals, comprising common and natterjack toads, frogs, 
tritons, and smooth newts. They were fed on earthworms which 
were thrown in at intervals. The worms burrowed into the 
gravel but came up at night and were caught. Gnats and 
spiders also strayed in from outside and were snapped up. The 
above method will be found excellent for studying frogs and 
toads, as the animals can be readily observed through the glass 
window as the observer stands in the cellar. They are 
effectually imprisoned while at the same time living in the open 
air with the natural alternations of sun and rain. In winter 
they may be taken in and allowed to hibernate. I add a few 
notes on particular species. 
Triton cristatus (great water newt). May be captured with a 
net or purchased at a dealer’s for a few pence. The male in 
spring, with his crest and bright orange abdomen, is a handsome 
fellow. Unfortunately apt to attack smaller newts. 
Lissotriton pnnctatiis (smooth newt). Widely distributed in 
fresh or stagnant water ; thus I have observed it in running 
water at Col Fen, Cambridge, and again in a small wayside pond 
at Fairhaven, on the Lancashire coast. The best way of taking 
