146 OUR REPTILES. 



willing ear or eye to the advances of the other 

 sex. 



At the close of the first year the length of the 

 triton is about two inches, of the second year three 

 inches, of the third year four inches, and at the ex- 

 piration of the fourth year it has reached from five 

 to six inches, thus adding annually about an inch to 

 its length. 



In its earliest terrestrial state the skin is but 

 slightly rough, and through the first and second 

 years very little change fakes place in this respect ; 

 but at the close of the third year the skin be- 

 comes manifestly rougher, and attains the per- 

 fection of its warted appearance in the fourth 

 year. 



During the first and second years there is scarcely 

 any difference in the sexes ; but during the breeding- 

 season, in the third year, the male aspires to an 

 incipient crest, the tail expands, and a permanent 

 silvery stripe appears along either side. The average 

 weight of the triton at the close of each of the first 

 four years is thus given by the observer already 

 quoted : — At the end of the first year 25 grains, of 

 the second year 54 grains, of the third year 75 grains, 

 and of the fourth year 134 grains. Hence, we learn, 

 that whilst the weight is more than doubled at the 

 close of the second year, but little more than one- 

 third is added during the third year, whilst in the 



