SALAMANDKINAE 



125 



female. Tlie male then at intervals emits spt'iiuaLu[)li(»res, 

 which sink to the bottom, and the female takes them u]) into its 

 cloaca. For fnrther information see p. 54. 



Triton cristatus. — The Crested Newt has a slightly tubercnlar 

 skin with distinct pores on the head, on the parotoid region and 

 on a line along the side of tlie trunk. There is a strong gular 

 fold. The general colour above is dark or black-brown with an 

 olive tinge, interspersed with darker spots ; the sides of the 

 body bear irregular white spots. The under parts are yellow, 

 almost always with large black spots. The iris is golden yellow. — 

 The nuptial dress of the male is very striking. A high, serrated 





\ m 



^^^^' 







Fig. 23. — Trilun cristatus. 1, Female; '1, male in nuptial dress, x S. 



crest occurs on the head and body ; the upper surftice of the head 

 is marbled with black and white ; the under parts are orange- 

 yellow with black spots, and the sides of the tail are adorned 

 with a bluish-white band. — The female, always devoid of a crest, 

 generally exhibits a yellow line along the middle of the back. 

 — The average length of fully adult specimens is about ^)-Q> 

 inches or 13-15 cm.; the females are as usual larger than the 

 males; 144 and 162 mm. for an English male and female 

 respectively are exceptional records. 



Propagation takes place in April. The newly hatched larvae 

 are yellowish-green, with two black dorsal bands, and with a 

 whitish edge to the tail-tin. By the middle of July they are 

 about 5 cm. long, and the white-margined tail now ends in a 



