Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/64

BRITISH AMPHIBIANS along the side of his prominent caudal appendage. The length obtained is about 3¼ inches. The female slightly exceeds this measurement.

Palmated Newt.—Triton palmatus (Figs. 25 and 26). Also known as the Webbed Newt by reason of the webbed toes of the male. It is the rarest of the three British species, and although it is found in Scotland, it is absent from Ireland. In haunts, breeding season, food, and habits it closely resembles others of its race, though a single egg is separately deposited in a green envelope made by forming a sheath from the leaf of an aquatic plant. This tailed amphibian as it may be called is, like its two other relatives, of nocturnal habits, resting by day, feeding by night. It is very tenacious, and if frozen under, or even in the ice, emerges none the worse for its adventure. If, too, during prolonged drought their breeding pond becomes dried up, they have the power of sustaining life until such time as rain or flood rescues them from their muddy bed. What perhaps is still more remarkable, they have the habit of reproducing a limb if one, or more, should be lost. In Newts there is no actual union between the male and female, as the latter seizes the receptacles containing the spermatozoa produced by the male, and transfers them to her own reproductive chamber. In swimming, Newts make free use of the all-important tail, hence its full development and retention all through life. The dress is brown, or olive above, spotted with darker colour on the body, and streaked on the head. The under parts, if an orange 48