Of All Things

MP3 Audio CD. Of All Things

I

THE SOCIAL LIFE OF THE NEWT


It is not generally known that the newt, although one of the smallest
of our North American animals, has an extremely happy home-life. It is
just one of those facts which never get bruited about.

I first became interested in the social phenomena of newt life early
in the spring of 1913, shortly after I had finished my researches in
sexual differentiation among amœba. Since that time I have practically
lived among newts, jotting down observations, making lantern-slides,
watching them in their work and in their play (and you may rest
assured that the little rogues have their play--as who does not?)
until, from much lying in a research posture on my stomach, over the
inclosure in which they were confined, I found myself developing what
I feared might be rudimentary creepers. And so, late this autumn, I
stood erect and walked into my house, where I immediately set about
the compilation of the notes I had made.

So much for the non-technical introduction. The remainder of this
article bids fair to be fairly scientific.

In studying the more intimate phases of newt life, one is chiefly
impressed with the methods by means of which the males force their
attentions upon the females, with matrimony as an object. For the newt
is, after all, only a newt, and has his weaknesses just as any of the
rest of us. And I, for one, would not have it different. There is
little enough fun in the world as it is.