GRAY'S BANDED NEWT. 169 



flowed one in his " British Reptiles " as a variety 

 of his Palmated Smooth Newt, which latter now 

 proves to be a variety of the Common Smooth 

 Newt. 



The present newt differs generically from the 

 Common Newt, that is, the difference is of such a 

 nature as to warrant its exclusion from the same 

 genus which includes the Common Newt, and its 

 being placed in another, and a new genus, under 

 the name of Ommaiotriton. From his remarks, it 

 would appear that Professor Bell considered the 

 specimens above alluded to as veritably indigenous, 

 for he says, " There is no reason to doubt that they 

 are British, and there is ground for believing that 

 they were taken at no great distance from London." 

 His sole objection seemed to be that he did not 

 regard them as different from his own Palm-footed 

 Newt, and he quotes Dr. Gray's letter to him on the 

 subject, which would probably not be so decided 

 then as now ; for, as it will be hereafter seen, Dr. 

 Gray was more convinced than ever that he was 

 right, and that Professor Bell was wrong. 



The letter quoted is to the following effect : — "My 

 Salamandra vittata (meaning the present species), 

 which has been figured by Gruerin,* who has adopted 

 my name, belongs to the same group as the former 



* 



Guerin, " Icon. Reg. Animal," 17. t, 28 ? f. 2. 



