33 
nature, and showing that to the farmer and gardener 
it was one of the best of friends as a slug and beetle 
destroyer. He also referred to the experiments of 
Dr Buckland, who proved the utter falsity of the 
opinion that live toads had been found embedded in 
solid rocks and trees for centuries, by enclosing some 
dozens of toads in sandstone and limestone, carefully 
sealing them up, so as to exclude air, and the possi¬ 
bility of getting food, which resulted in death at 
the end of eighteen months in every case. The 
next species noticed was the great Water Newt 
{Triton cristatus.) When full-grown it measures 
six or seven inches, and lives almost constantly in 
water. It is found in the county, at Cherrybankj 
and near Blairgowrie, from which last place Mr 
Stewart had seen some very line specimens. The 
colour of the back is deep brown, the belly bright 
orange with black spots. The male is distinguished 
by a crest along the back. The fourth species is the 
common newt Lophinus punciatus. In habits it is 
much more terrestrial than the former, and much 
smaller in size. It is a very harmless, but a sadly 
persecuted reptile. It has been falsely accused of 
going down the throats of those foolishly sleeping in 
fields with their mouths open. Mr Stewart con¬ 
cluded his paper by remarking that he would advise 
young tnembers never to be led astray by the out¬ 
ward appearance of any of the productions of nature, 
but to try to find out for themselves for w'hat useful 
purpose the most repulsive animals were created, and 
what part they play in the great plan of Him who 
made all for good. 
The paper was illustrated throughout with diagrams 
of the animals referred to, prepared by Mr James 
Young. 
Votes of thanks were awarded to Dr Buchanan 
White and Mr Stewart for their several papers, 
