WATER-NEWT. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 
Lacerta aquatica. . L. cauda teretiuscula mediocri. Linn. 
Syst. Nat. Gmel. 1 . p. 106(5. 
Tail roundish and of a moderate length. 
Salamandra alepidota, cauda teretiuscula. 
Gronov. Mus. 2. p. 78. no. 52. 
Triton cristatus. Laur. Amph. 
p. 3 g. no. 44. 
Common Water-newt. Shaw Gen. Zool. 3. p. 298 . pi. 83. 
This animal has been confounded with the great 
water-newt by some naturalists, and both have been 
described under one head ; they, however, appear to 
be distinct species, although their habits are the 
same. This little creature is well known to every 
one who has looked attentively for a few minutes 
on the surface of a pond, or hole filled with water, 
during the warm weather. They are seldom found 
in running streams, but may be seen in great num- 
bers in stagnant water, frequently rising to the top 
to imbibe fresh air. They swim with great readi- 
ness, but are slow travellers upon land. In winter 
they retire to the bottom of deep drains in marshy 
