Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/66

BRITISH AMPHIBIANS It spends about a fourth of the year in water, and during hibernation several adults—evidently firm believers in the old motto that "union is strength"—may be found clinging together. The young, hov^ever, seem to prefer solitary confinement, passing the torpid state in any convenient retreat out of harm's way.

Newts, it should be noted, never seize their prey unless it is in motion, and in capturing same they display, as has already been noted, very considerable agility and cleverness. They have four fingers on each of the front pair of limbs, and five toes on each of the hind ones. They possess moveable eyelids, palatal teeth as well as in the jaws, and flat tails. This latter in spite of the fact that they are cousins of the well-known Salamanders which have round extremities.

The serrated dorsal crest of the male Great Water Newt is a characteristic feature, and many specimens of this large species fall a prey to the young angler in Spring when, without hook or even bent pin, these creatures are caught by line and worm only, as once a Newt has firmly seized the tempting bait, it can easily be pulled ashore. The poor captives are often confined in small glass bottles which are all light and no shade, and they must often experience a sad time of it unless, as happens, they can at a favourable opportunity make good their escape. It seems strange that those of us who are always on the look-out for these things rarely come across Newts in their hibernating quarters, or making their way to or from the water. Occasionally 50