140 SALAMANDBID.E. 



without, at that time, observing any structural difference. 

 On examininfj the Eu^lish Newts in the collection of the 

 Zoological Society, I find a bottle containing several speci- 

 mens of both sexes, collected by Mr. Blyth at Tooting, 

 and separated, I have reason to believe, by M. Bibron, 

 when last in this country. I have since received from him 

 specimens of the four French species of Newts, amongst 

 which are some of the present species, which prove to be 

 identical with the specimens I have just mentioned in my 

 own collection, and that of the Zoological Society ; and on 

 looking over those in the British Museum, T have found 

 many specimens in bottles, mixed promiscuously with the 

 common species, and ticketed Tr. vulgaris. From all these 

 circumstances, I am convinced that it is very common in this 

 country, but that it has been overlooked in consequence of its 

 general resemblance to the species last described. 



It differs from that species in being of larger size, in the 

 upper lip being pendulous at the sides, where it forms a sort 

 of lobe, reaching to the base of the lower jaw, and in the toes 

 being furnished with a considerable fringe of skin. The 

 spots which cover the body both above and below are more 

 numerous and smaller, and their outline is more distinctly 

 defined, and the head is elegantly marked with brown lon- 

 gitudinal lines. 



It appears to be liable to considerable variation in colour 

 and markings. I possess a female specimen which is of a 

 very dark brown above, and the belly minutely 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 Triton 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, 



