COMMON SMOOTH-NEWT. 151 
duction, very much developed, and are continuous ; the 
margin is crenate throughout its length, and posteriorly 
deeply festooned. The colour varies very much in the 
course of the year, and even in different individuals at the 
same period. That of the male is also very different from 
that of the female. The former is brownish grey above, 
passing into yellow beneath, which in the spring becomes a 
rich bright orange; marked everywhere with round dark 
spots of unequal size. On the head are two or more 
longitudinal streaks. The crenations of the crest, in the 
spring season, are often tipped with bright red or violet. 
The female is usually light yellowish brown, or even 
buff with scattered brown dots, and the belly often quite 
plain. 
In. Lines. 
Total length . : : ‘ eS 7 
Length of tail : F : : 1 8 
This species appears to be liable to considerable varia- 
tion in colour and markings. I possess a female specimen 
which is of a very dark brown above, and the belly mi- 
nutely punctated with black; and there is a space or band 
running along the side almost bare of spots. But the most 
remarkable variety is that which has been described by 
Mr. Gray and after him by Mr. Jenyns as a species, under 
the name of 7riton vittatus, the ground colour of which is 
white, “‘ with unequal black spots ; tail black ; belly, under 
sides of the legs and tail, and a broad streak along each 
side of the body and tail, white.” I have carefully exa- 
mined the specimens in the British Museum, and am 
