“Look, Uncle George! He knows me.”
“He is hungry, and thinks you ought to have a small worm in your fingers.”
“Thinks? Uncle George. Can newts think?”
“It looks as if they could, does it not? We feed these creatures every day, and they have got into the habit of looking for food every time we come near them. But here comes Tom with the worms.”
It was curious to watch how the newt acted when a tiny worm was given it. At first it seemed not to see the worm, although it was wriggling at his nose. It crept back slowly about two or three inches, then all at once it sprang upon the worm and gobbled it up.
“You must tell us all about the newt, Uncle George,” said Tom.
“I should like to know how much you two boys have found out by feeding and watching these two,” said Uncle George. “So just tell me what you know about the newt first, then perhaps I can tell you some things about newts, frogs, and toads which you do not know.”
“Well,” began Tom, “the newt lives in water. He has four feet, with pretty little toes upon them, and a long tail. He feeds upon worms, tadpoles, and other small animals, and he swallows them whole, because he has no teeth.
Crested Newt, Male and Female.