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NEWTS. 377 
may be associated in the Vivarium with other large Newts and 
Salamanders, and treated in the same way, as already suggested. 
The Alpine Newt (Molge alpestris) is, especially in the breed- 
ing season, a beautifully marked little creature. In size it is com- 
paratively small, varying from 4in. to 43in. in length. Itis a 
native of France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, 
Austria, and Italy. J. cristata is often found associated with 
this Newt, upon which it frequently feeds. 
M. alpestris has a head a little longer than broad; in the case 
of the male, during the breeding season, a long, low, straight- 
edged crest which runs from behind the eyes to the tip of the 
tail; the fingers and toes free; a tail about as long as the head 
and body, and which possesses a well-developed lower crest, ending 
in a point ; the skin tuberculated above and smooth below: pores 
abeut the head and parotoid regions ; and a fold on the throat. 
Fic. 94.—FEMALE SMOOTH NEWT (Molge vulgaris). 
This Newt, like many others of its genus, varies greatly in 
colouring, of which the following is the description given by Mr. 
Boulenger: ‘‘ Upper parts brown, blackish, greyish, or purplish, 
uniform or marbled with darker; a lateral series of small black 
spots, on whitish ground, this being bordered inferiorly in the 
breeding male by a sky-blue band ; dorsal and caudal crests white, 
with round, black spots; fingers and toes with black annuli; 
belly orange or red, immaculate ; throat, frequently blaeck-dotted ; 
the lower edge of the female’s tail orange, with round black spots.” 
This beautiful Newt, which may occasionally be bought in 
London for a shilling or two, should be associated with other 
members of the Salamandride of its own size. 
The Common or Smooth Newt (JL. vulgaris, Fig. 94) is m 
Britain by far the most plentiful of its genus, being found in 
pools, ponds, ditches, and pits, during spring and summer, 
nearly everywhere. The young ones, that is those which have 
