PALMATE NEWT. 1(J3 



parent ly differ from those of the common smooth 

 newt. The males show the same lateral curvature 

 of the tail, with a rapid vibration of its lash-like 

 extremity during the love season. The slough is 

 cast entire, and, in most cases, immediately swal- 

 lowed by its owner.* 



In pointing out the distinctions to be observed 

 between this species and its allies, Professor Bell 

 notes that " the whole animal is smaller ; the head 

 flatter, broader in proportion, and beautifully mar- 

 bled. The crest is straight, and much less elevated 

 than in the other species, and begins further back 

 on the neck. The hinder feet of the male are pal- 

 mate; entirely so in the summer, less so in the 

 autumn, and towards winter the web is scarcely 

 broader than in the smooth newt in the full season. 

 The tail is not much more than half the depth, ter- 

 minating rather abruptly, and furnished at its 

 extremity with a small filament, which varies in 

 length from two to four lines, in the female dwind- 

 ling to a mere mucronation. The colours of the 

 back and sides are more clear and bright, although 

 generally darker. The spots are more numerous 

 and often confluent ; and the tail has two distinct 

 longitudinal fasciae of spots, with occasionally a few 

 between them ; but the inferior margin is invariably 



* E. W. H. Holds worth, Zoologist, p. 8640. 



M 2 



