COMMON SMOOTH-NEWT. 147 
individuals, which have lost these organs.* The growth 
of the young animals during the summer and autumn is 
very rapid; so that they attain nearly their adult size the 
first year. Very early in the winter the crest of the male 
begins to make its appearance, and by the beginning of the 
year it is conspicuous. 
The result of a partial and hasty observation of these 
circumstances has been that naturalists have described the 
same species, in different conditions, as being specifically 
distinct. Shaw, in his General Zoology, asserts that the 
Common Newt is “altogether a terrestial species,” and 
contests even the statement of Linnzus, that it inhabits 
water during its larva state. ‘I can,” proceeds Dr. Shaw, 
“safely affirm that I have more than once met with speci- 
mens in perfectly dry situations, so extremely minute as 
scarcely to equal half an inch in length, which appeared to 
differ in no respect, except in magnitude, from the full- 
grown animal.” Now it is here evident that he had met 
with the young and the adult of this species when they had 
left the water for their autumnal visit to the land, and the 
branchie of the one, and the dorsal crest of the other were 
both lost. The Rev. Revett Sheppard has still farther con- 
fused the question ; but, as these mistakes arose altogether 
from the want of a proper consideration of the characters 
of the group, and of closer observation of the habits of the 
animals, and as both these points are now cleared up, it is 
unnecessary to enter farther into the subject. 
For the following interesting observations on the mode 
in which the change of skin is effected by this species 
I am indebted to Mr. James Salter :— 
* There is in the Museum of the Zoological Society an interesting Series of 
Specimens exhibiting these facts. They were collected by Mr. Blyth, and the 
bottles are furnished with his observations. 
ih 
