File:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (17539182173).jpg

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo05amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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t82 the AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL Eft is merely a phase of the common Newt, but it is an interesting case of adaptation to environment. Few observers who have visited mountainous places in the eastern United States have failed to notice in the damp woods the brilliant red "lizards" slowly making their way over the carpet of fallen leaves. Among residents of the country places they are known as Red Efts, Fire " Lizards " and Rain " Lizards." These are not lizards, but they are batrachians, and they repre- sent a form of the common Newt that has seemingly tired of the water and begun a terrestrial existence. The animals vary in color from dull brown to brilliant vermilion. Rows of red dots
Text Appearing After Image:
FIG. 15. THE RED EFT, OR MOUNTAIN " LIZARD" From specimen in New York Zoological Park are very apparent on the brown forms, while on the vermilion forms they are less distinct, but can be discerned as richer red, bordered with narrow circles of black. The brown specimens are forms that have left the water but a short time; those of the brilliant red hues have for some time been leading a terrestrial life. During dry weather the Red Efts hide under leaves and moss; after the summer showers they issue from their hiding- places to swarm through the woods. In mountain ponds in the heart of districts where the red form is very abundant, the aquatic adults may be found swarm- ing in the water. If the latter are taken from the water and kept in damp moss or among leaves, they lose their greenish tints and the smooth appearance of the skin, becoming dull brown and

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