COMMON SMOOTH-NEWT. 



153 



the following extract of a note which I have received from 

 him on this subject : — 



" My Salamandra vittaia, which has been figured by 

 Guerin, who has adopted my name, belongs to the same 

 group as the former [Triton cristatus]. It agrees with it 

 in having the crest interrupted over the loins, and chiefly 

 differs from it in having smaller tubercles, and in colour. 

 It is easily known both from 8. palustris [TV. cristatus], 

 and from Triton punctatus, by the wide black-edged white 

 streak along the lower part of each side of the body, &c. 

 The head is much larger and more depressed than that of 

 any of the varieties of Tr. punctatus" 



I have only to add that I differ entirely from these opi- 

 nions of Mr. Gray, and that the last-named character was 

 only found in one specimen of those of the British Museum, 

 the others having the head of the same proportional size 

 as in Lissotriton pimctatus. The exception was probably 

 accidental. 



