attaining a maximum length of six inches, to which the tail contributes
two inches and a half. The skin in this species is thrown into little
warts, and on the upper parts is dark grey or blackish-brown. Along the
lower part of the sides there is a liberal sprinkling of white dots, and
the underside is coloured yellow or orange, boldly spotted or blotched
with black. There is a strong collar-like fold at the base of the
throat. The male's nuptial crest starts from the head as a low frill,
but between the shoulders and the thighs becomes high with its edge
deeply notched, the resulting "teeth" waving freely in the water. Behind
the thighs there is a gap, and then the crest rises again as a tail fin,
the lower edge of the tail having a similar extension. Along the sides
of the tail proper runs a bluish-white, silvery-looking stripe. The eye
has a golden yellow iris.
The female, who exceeds the male in size, is coloured similarly, but
the lower edge of her tail is yellow or orange. Above the spine runs
a depressed line, which is coloured yellow in the breeding season,
which begins in April. The newly hatched, semi-transparent larvæ are
yellowish-green with two black stripes along the back, which, later,
when the ground colour changes to a light olive, become broken up into
spots, and the flanks and underside become tinged with gold. They have
a finer equipment of branchial plumes than the Frog tadpoles, and their
form is more graceful and not "big headed." Some individuals do not
complete their development before winter, and remain in the pond until
the spring. They may be frozen in solid ice, but they thaw out none the
worse for their cold storage. Their food consists of any small aquatic
life such as insects, worms, crustaceans, and weaker individuals of
their own kind; later, on land they feed upon worms and insects.
The adults, if they did not leave the water immediately after the
conclusion of family affairs, seek dry land in the autumn, and assemble
in numbers in some comfortable damp hole, where they twist and
intertwine into a ball, apparently to prevent loss of moisture. In
this way they pass the winter in a more or less torpid condition.
The skin is shed much after the manner of the Snake, separation
beginning at the lips, and by the help of the hands and bodily
wrigglings worked off the tail. These sloughs may be found floating
entire in the water looking like Newt-ghosts; but on land they may be
got rid of piecemeal, the old skin being sometimes swallowed as in the
case of the Toad.
The Crested Newt is widely distributed over England, but is less
plentiful in the west: in Devon it is a scarce species and locally
restricted, and in Cornwall it does not occur. Much the same applies
to Scotland, where it is found as far north as Perthshire, but not
at all in the west. It is absent entirely from Ireland; but generally
distributed on the Continent.
*Smooth Newt* (_Molge vulgaris_, Linn.).
The Smooth Newt, Common Newt, Spotted Newt, Eft or Evat is the best
known of the trio, but is most plentiful in the eastern half of the
Kingdom. It is very much smaller than the Crested Newt, its maximum
length being four inches. It varies in colour, but the prevailing tint
is olive-brown with darker spots over the upper side, and dark streaks
on the head. The underside is orange or vermilion with round black
spots, the colours becoming more intense in the breeding season; the
throat white or yellow, mostly dotted with black. The underside of
the female is, as a rule, much paler than that of the male, and often
unspotted. At the mating period the male develops a continuous crest,
running from the top of the head to the end of the tail, and the lower
edge of the tail has a spotted pale blue band with black base. The
upper edge of the crest is festooned instead of being serrated. The eye
has a golden iris. The female has shorter fingers and toes than the
male.
[Illustration: _Pl. 110._ _M 176._
*Palmate Newt, male.*
Molge palmata.]
[Illustration: _Pl. 111._ _N 177._
*Palmate Newt, female.*
The distinctive webbing is well shown in the hind feet.]
The breeding history of the Smooth Newt follows much on the same lines
as that of the Crested Newt. The larva is spotted with yellow along the
sides and tail, which ends in a thread-like prolongation of its tip.
Immediately after the breeding season the adults leave the water, and
seek their food among the vegetation of the land. They become duller in
colour, and the skin becomes more opaque with a fine velvety surface.
They are then the Dry Evats of country folk. When aquarium-keeping was a
fashionable drawing-room hobby in mid-Victorian days the Smooth Newt was
an annoying pet, owing to its objection to remaining in the water after
the breeding season had passed, and being so frequently found in a dry
and shrivelled condition in obscure corners of the room.
In parts of Ireland it is the Man-eater or Man-keeper (as well as Dry
Ask and Dark Lewker) owing to a superstitious belief that it enters the
mouths of sleepers, and thereafter robs them of all nutriment of which
they may partake.
*Palmate Newt* (_Molge palmata_, Dum. and Bibr.).
In general appearance the Palmate Newt is similar to the Smooth Newt,
and is as smooth as that species. There is no doubt that it is commonly
mistaken, for it, for a few years ago it was considered rare, but closer
examination shows that whilst it is local in the south-east of England,
it is more plentiful than the Smooth Newt in the west.
It is a smaller animal than the Smooth Newt, its length being three
inches only. In the breeding season its distinctness is evident, for
the male has then a nearly four-sided body owing to the development of
a fold of skin along each side of the back. The crest, instead of being
high in front and having an undulating edge, rises gradually from the
head, is of less height and has an entire margin. The tail appears as
though the tip had been cut off and the attempt to renew it had got
only as far as the development of a short thread from the centre of
the cut portion. But what gives the species its name is a black web
which connects the toes. The tail develops a fin along its lower edge
in both sexes, and this in the male is edged with blue and in the female
with orange. Another point of distinction lies in the colour of the
throat. Instead of the black-dotted white or yellow of the Smooth Newt,
the throat of the Palmate Newt is flesh coloured without dots.
Above, the colour is olive-brown with darker spots; below, the centre is
orange bordered by pale yellow, with or without black spots.
After the breeding season, when the adults leave the water, the webbing
of the feet--being no longer useful--becomes reduced to a margin along
each toe and no longer constituting a palm; but the truncated tail
remains as a specific distinction, though the thread-like prolongation
becomes very short in the female.
CLASSIFIED INDEX
TO ORDERS, GENERA, AND SPECIES DESCRIBED IN THIS WORK.
*Mammalia.*
_Order Insectivora._
Talpa europæa, Linn., 13
Sorex araneus, Linn., 21
" granti, 25
" minutus, Linn., 25
Neomys fodiens, Schreber, 27
Erinaceus europæus, Linn., 9
_Order Chiroptera._
Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum, Schreber, 34
" hipposideros, Bechstein, 36
Myotis bechsteinii, Kuhl, 40
" daubentonii, Kuhl, 41
" mystacinus, Kuhl, 37
" nattereri, Kuhl, 39
Vespertilio murinus, Linn., 45
" pipistrellus, Schreber, 43
" serotinus, Schreber, 44
Nyctalus leisleri, Kuhl, 48
" noctula, Schreber, 46
Plecotus auritus, Linn., 49
Barbastella barbastellus, Schreber, 51
_Order Carnivora._
Vulpes canis, Linn., 52
Meles taxus, Boddaert, 55
Lutra vulgaris, Erxleben, 59
Mustela erminea, Linn., 66
" hibernicus, Thomas, 69
" martes, Linn., 63
" nivalis, Linn., 69
" putorius, Linn., 73
Felis silvestris, Schreber, 75
_Order Rodentia._
Oryctolagus cuniculus, Linn., 113
Lepus europæus, Pallas, 117
" hibernicus, Bell, 123
" timidus, Linn., 121
Muscardinus avellanarius, Linn., 82
Evotomys alstoni, Barrett-Hamilton, 112
" erica, Barrett-Hamilton, 113
" glareolus, Schreber, 110
" skomeriensis, Barrett-Hamilton, 112
Microtus agrestis, Linn., 105
" orcadensis, Millais, 109
Arvicola amphibius, Linn., 102
Apodemus flavicollis, Melchior, 91
" fridariensis, Kinnear, 92
" hebridensis, de Winton, 92
" sylvaticus, Linn., 89
Micromys minutus, Pallas, 86
Epimys norvegicus, Erxleben, 97
" rattus, Linn., 95
Mus muralis, Barrett-Hamilton, 94
" musculus, Linn., 92
Sciurus vulgaris, Linn., 78
[ " cinereus, Linn., 81]
[Tamias striatus, Linn., 82]
_Order Ungulata._
Cervus dama, Linn., 130
" elaphus, Linn., 124
Capreolus capraea, Gray, 133
*Reptilia.*
_Order Lacertilia._
Lacerta agilis, Linn., 140
" vivipara, Wagl., 136
[ " muralis, Merr., 142]
[ " viridis, Linn., 142]
Anguis fragilis, Linn., 142
_Order Ophidia._
Tropidonotus natrix, Linn., 146
Coronella austriaca, Lacepede, 152
Vipera berus, Linn., 154
*Batrachia.*
_Order Ecaudata._
Rana temporaria, Linn., 157
[ " esculenta, Linn., 162]
[Hyla arborea, Linn., 165]
Bufo calamita, Laurent, 170
" vulgaris, Laurent, 165
[Alytes obstetricans, Laurent, 172]
_Order Caudata._
Molge cristata, Linn., 173
" palmata, Dum. and Bibr., 177
" vulgaris, Linn., 176
INDEX
Adder, 154, Plates 92A, 92B, 94, 96
Alexandrine Rat, 97, Pl. 61
Alpine Hare, 121, Pl. 79
_Alytes obstetricans_, 172
_Anguis fragilis_, 142
_Apodemus butei_, 92;
_A. flavicollis_, 91;
_A. fridariensis_, 92;
_A. hebridensis_, 92;
_A. hirtensis_, 92;
_A. sylvaticus_, 89
"Art of Learning," 2
_Arvicola amphibia_, 102
Ask, 177
Badger, 55, Pl. 37
Bank Vole, 110, Pl. 71
_Barbastella barbastellus_, 51
Barbastelle, 51, Pl. 33A, 33B
Barn Rat, 100
Bat, Barbastelle, 51;
" Bechstein's B., 40;
" Common B., 43;
" Daubenton's B., 41;
" Great B., 46;
" Horse-shoe B., 34;
" Leisler's B., 48;
" Long-eared B., 49;
" Natterer's B., 39;
" Noctule B., 46;
" Parti-coloured B., 45;
" Red-grey B., 39;
" Whiskered B., 37
Bechstein's Bat, 40
Blind-worm, 142
Bony structure of Vertebrates, 4
British Rat, 95, Pl. 62
Brown Hare, 117, Pls. 75, 77;
B. Rat, 97, Pls. 63, 64
_Bufo calamita_, 170;
_B. vulgaris_, 165
Bush Rabbit, 116
Bute Field Mouse, 92
_Capreolus caprea_, 133
Carnivora, 52
Cat, Wild, 72, Pl. 46
Catamount, 77
Cat-a-mountain, 77
_Cervus dama_, 130;
_C. elaphus_, 124
Chipmunk, 82
Chipping Squirrel, 82
_Coronella austriaca_, 152
Crested Newt, 173, Pls. 106, 107
Dark Lewker, 177
Daubenton's Bat, 41, Pl. 21
Deaf-Adder, 142
Deer, Fallow, 130;
" Red D., 124;
" Roe D., 133
Dental Formula, 6
Dog-mouse, 105
Dormouse, 82, Pls. 52, 55
Dry Ask, 177
Eft, 175
_Epimys hibernicus_, 99;
_E. norvegicus_, 97;
_E. rattus_, 95
_Erinaceus europæus_, 9
Erinacidæ, 13
Ermine, 66, Pl. 41
Evat, 177;
" Furze Evvet, 139
_Evotomys alstoni_, 112;
_E. erica_, 113;
_E. glareolus_, 110;
_E. skomeriensis_, 112
Fair Isle field mouse, 92
Fallow Deer, 130, Pls. 78, 82
Fawn, 132
_Felis silvestris_, 75
Ferret, 75
Field Mouse, Bute, 92;
" Fair Isle F.M., 92;
" Hebridean F.M., 92;
" Long-tailed F.M., 91;
" St. Kilda F.M., 92;
" Short-tailed F.M., 105, Pls. 67, 69
Fitchew, 73
Flesh-eating Mammals, 52
Foulmart or Foumart, 73
Fox, 52, Pls. 34, 35
Frog, Common, 157;
" Edible F., 162;
" Tree F., 165, Pls. 97-101
Furze Evvet, 139
Gnawing Mammals, 78
Golden Back, 170
Grass Mouse, 108
" Snake, 146, Pls. 91A, 91B, 91C, 92A, 92B, 93
Great Bat, 46, Pls. 13, 26, 29
" Newt, 173
Green Lizard, 142
Hair, characteristic of Mammals alone, 7
Hairless Mouse, 94;
H. Rat, 100
Hare, Alpine, 121;
" Brown H., 117;
" Irish H., 123
Harvest Mouse, 86, Pls. 54A, 54B, 56
Hebridean Field Mouse, 92;
H. Vole, 109
Hedgehog, 9, Pls. 1-4
Hind, 124
Hoofed Mammals, 124
Horse-shoe Bat, Larger, 34, Pls. 14, 15;
" Lesser H.B., 36, Pl. 17
House Mouse, 92, Pls. 58, 60
Huxley on Natural History Knowledge, 2
_Hyla arborea_, 165
Insectivora, 9
Irish Hare, 123;
I. Rat, 99
Islay Shrew, 25
_Lacerta agilis_, 140;
_L. muralis_, 142;
_L. viridis_, 142;
_L. vivipara_, 136
Leisler's Bat, 48, Pls. 28, 30
_Lepus europæus_, 117;
_L. hibernicus_, 123;
_L. timidus_, 121
Lesser Shrew, 25
Lizard, Common, 136, Pls. 84, 85, 87;
Green L., 142;
Sand L., 140;
Wall L., 142
Long-eared Bat, 49, Pls. 31, 32
Long-tailed Field Mouse, 89
_Lutra vulgaris_, 59
Mammals, 4, 9
Man-eater, 177
Man-keeper, 177
Marten, 63
_Meles taxus_, 55
_Micromys minutus_, 86
_Microtus agrestis_, 105;
_M. orcadensis_, 109
Midwife Toad, 172
Mole, 13, Pls. 5-7
Mole-heaves, 16
Mole's "fortress," 16
_Molge cristata_, 173;
_M. palmata_, 177;
_M. punctata_, 176
Mouse, Dog, 105;
" Dor M., 82;
" Field M., 91;
" Grass M., 108;
" Hairless M., 94;
" Harvest M., 86;
" House M., 92;
" Marsh M., 105;
" Wood M., 89
_Mus muralis_, 92;
_M. musculus_, 92
_Muscardinus avellanarius_, 82
_Mustela erminea_, 66;
_M. eversmanni_, 75;
_M. hibernicus_, 69;
_M. martes_, 63;
_M. nivalis_, 69;
_M. putorius_, 73
_Myotis bechsteini_, 40;
_M. daubentonii_, 41;
_M. mystacinus_, 37;
_M. nattereri_, 39
Natchet, 172
Natterjack, 170, Pls. 104, 105
_Neomys fodiens_, 27
Newt, Common, 176;
" Crested N., 173;
" Great N., 173;
" Palmate N., 177;
" Spotted N., 176;
" Warty N., 173, Pls. 106-111
Noctule, 46
_Nyctalus leisleri_, 48;
_N. noctula_, 46
Observation, 1
Orkney Vole, 109, Pl. 70
_Oryctolagus cunicularis_, 113
Otter, 59, Pls. 38, 39
Palmate Newt, 177, Pls. 110, 111
Parti-coloured Bat, 45
Pine Marten, 63, Pl. 40
Pipistrelle, 43, Pls. 23, 25
_Plecotus auritus_, 49
Polecat, 73, Pls. 45, 48
Raasay Vole, 113
Rabbit, Bush, 116;
" Common R., 113, Pl. 73;
" Stub R., 116
_Rana esculenta_, 162;
_R. temporaria_, 157
Rat, Alexandrine, 97;
" Barn R., 100;
" Black R., 95;
" British R., 95;
" Brown R., 97;
" Hairless R., 100;
" Hanoverian R., 95;
" Irish R., 99;
" Roof R., 97;
" Tree R., 97;
" Water R., 102;
" White R., 101
Red Deer, 124, Pls. 76, 80
Red-grey Bat, 39, Pls. 19, 20
_Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum_, 34;
_R. hipposideros_, 36
Ringed Snake, 146, Pls. 91A, 91B, 91C, 92A, 92B, 93
Rodentia, 78
Roe Deer, 133, Pls. 81, 83
Running Toad, 170
St. Kilda Field Mouse, 92
Sand Lizard, 140, Pls. 86, 88
_Sciurus cinereus_, 81;
_S. vulgaris_, 78
Serotine Bat, 44, Pls. 24, 27
Short-tailed Field Mouse, 105
Shrew, Common, 21, Pls. 9, 11;
" Islay S., 25;
" Lesser S., 25, Pl. 12;
" Water S., 27, Pl. 10
Slow-worm, 142, Pls. 89, 90
Smooth Newt, 176;
S. Snake, 152, Pl. 95
Snake, Common, 146;
" Grass S., 146;
" Ringed S., 146;
" Smooth S., 152
_Sorex araneus_, 21;
_S. granti_, 25;
_S. minutus_, 25
Soricidæ, 13
Spotted Newt, 176
Squirrel, Chipping, 82;
" Common S., 78;
" Grey S., 81, Pls. 49, 51, 53
Stag, 124
Stoat, 66, Pls. 41, 42
Stub Rabbit, 116
Sweet Marten, 63
Tadpoles, 160
_Talpa europæa_, 13
Talpidæ, 13
_Tamias striatus_, 82
Teeth, 5
Theromorpha, 3
Toad, Common, 165, Pls. 102A, 102B, 103, 105;
" Midwife T., 172;
" Natterjack T., 170;
" Running T., 170, Pls. 104, 105
Tree Frog, 165
_Tropidonotus natrix_, 146
Ungulata, 124
Vertebral Column, Regions of, 4
Vertebrates, 3
_Vespertilio murinus_, 45;
_V. pipistrellus_, 43;
_V. serotinus_, 44
Viper, 154, Pls. 92A, 92B, 94, 96
_Vipera berus_, 154
Vole, Alston's, 112;
" Bank V., 110;
" Eigg V., 109;
" Field V., 105;
" Hebridean V., 108;
" Macgillivray's V., 109;
" Orkney V., 108;
" Raasay V., 113;
" Sanday V., 108;
" Skomer V., 112;
" Water Vole, 102;
" Westray V., 108
_Vulpes canis_, 52
Water Rat, 102;
W. Vole, 102, Pls. 65, 66
Weasel, 69, Pls. 43, 47
Whiskered Bat, 37, Pls. 16, 18
Wild Cat, 75, Pl. 46
Wild Life, How to observe, 2
Wood Mouse, 89, Pl. 59
Yellow-necked Mouse, 91
End of Project Gutenberg's Animal Life of the British Isles, by Edward Step