266 URODELA. — SALAMANDRAD^. 



terrestrial and aquatic, consists of worms, slugs, 

 insects and their larvae, &c. 



We have several examples of this Family in 

 Great Britain, all of which are aquatic in their 

 habits. They are commonly known under the 

 appellations of Eft or Evet, and Newt. 



Genus Lissotriton (Bell). 



The Smooth-newts, which are separated by 

 Professor Bell from the Warty-newts, present 

 the following characters. The tongue is semi- 

 globular, slightly free at each side, free and 

 pointed behind ; the palate has two longitudinal 

 rows of minute teeth ; there are four toes on 

 the fore feet, and five on the hind, all destitute 

 of nails ; the skin is smooth, not set with warts ; 

 there are two patches of glandular pores on the 

 head, but none on the back or sides. The back 

 of the male is furnished during the summer with 

 a sort of fin or crest, which, commencing at the 

 hind head, runs without interrup)tion to the ex- 

 tremity of the tail. In winter this crest is no 

 longer found, being absorbed on the approach of 

 cold weather, to be renewed in spring ; but the 

 tail retains at all periods a finny expansion run- 

 ning along its upper and lower edges, diminished 

 in winter. 



The Common Smooth-newt {Lissotriton 'punc- 

 tatus, Daud.), which is found in almost every 

 clear ditch and pond in summer, is a beautiful 

 little animal. The male is about three inches 

 and a half in length, of a brownish hue above, 

 merging into yellow beneath, which in spring 

 becomes a rich bright orange ; the whole studded 



