70 Miscellaneous. 



apex ; plate of insertion entire, rounded ; valves thick ; mantle 

 covered with oblong, unequal, elongated, oblong scales. 



B. The plate of insertion of all the valves with only a single notch on 

 each side. The valves more or less covered; the hinder valve with 

 expanded plates of insertion (as in the central valves), with only a 

 single notch on each side, and a concave sinuosity below. 



9. Mopalia. Valves, exposed part broad, transverse ; plates of 

 insertion moderate ; mantle spinulose ; front edge sometimes ex- 

 panded. 



10. Katharina. Valves, exposed part small, cordate, as long as 

 broad ; mantle smooth. 



1 1 . Cryptochiton. Valves entirely hidden ; mantle covered with 

 tufts of spicula. 



II. Mantle with a series of pores (each furnished with a tuft of spines) 

 on each side. The plates of insertion of all the valves with only a 

 single notch on each side, which is sometimes rudimentary. 



12. Cryptoconchus. Exposed part of valves very small, linear, 

 much longer than broad ; mantle smooth. 



13. Amicula. Exposed part of valves small, subcordate, as broad 

 as long ; mantle bristly. 



14. Acanthochites. Exposed part of valves moderate, broad, 

 cordate, as long as broad ; mantle spinulose. 



15. Chitonellus. Exposed part of valves linear-lanceolate, elon- 

 gate ; body vermiform ; mantle spinulose. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Researches to determine the Number of Species and the Mode of 



Development of the British Triton. By J. Higginbottom, Esq., 



F.R.C.S. 



The observations of the author, of which he gives a detailed ac- 

 count in the present memoir, have led him to the following con- 

 clusions : — 



Two species only of the genus Triton are met with in England ; 

 namely, the Triton verrucosus and the Lisso-triton punctatus. It is 

 three years before the animal is capable of propagating its species, 

 and four years before it attains its full growth. In its tadpole state, 

 it remains in the water till its legs acquire sufficient strength to 

 qualify it for progressive motion on land. While a land animal, it 

 is in an active state during the summer, and passes the winter in a 

 state of hybernation ; but does not then, as has been erroneously 

 supposed, remain at the bottom of pools. Very dry, or very wet 

 situations are incompatible with the preservation of life during the 

 period of hybernation. At the expiration of the third year, the 

 triton revisits the water, in the spring season, for the purposes of 

 reproduction, and again leaves it at the commencement of autumn. 



