OR, THE HOME-CULTURE OF FRESH-WATER PLANTS. 
Plate VII.) exhibit similar peculiarities; they 
are more robustly formed than the species just 
described, hut not quite so finely marked, the spots 
of the male, though more numerous, being not so 
large. 
Towards autumn, about the middle of September, 
these elegant creatures generally leave the element 
of their nativity, and seek food among the damp 
grass of the meadows—returning to the pond or 
brook to hybernate. They will, however, live in 
water all the year round, though, after the gills of 
their tadpole state have disappeared, they are unable 
to remain entirely under water for many minutes 
together; and it is very interesting, in a tank, to 
watch them on a sunny morning maintaining their 
position, by “ treading water,” as a swimmer would 
say, with their delicately formed little feet, occa¬ 
sionally rising to the surface for the necessary 
supply of air, and then sinking to the original 
situation, about half-way from the bottom—some 
favourite spot, favoured by a peculiar shade, or 
some other accidental attraction. 
The addition of a little rocky island, on which the 
little creatures can bask occasionally, retreating to 
the water at will, is a great desideratum where 
Newts form part of the Aquarium colony. 
95 
