382 THE VIVARIUM. 
The Banded Newt (Molge vittata) is rather a handsome Batra- 
chian, and when fully grown is about 4m. in length. It is a 
native of Asia Minor and Syria, while all of the other Newts 
which have now been described are inhabitants of Europe. 
M., vittata has a head which is longer than broad; a rounded 
snout; in the case of the male during the breeding season a 
feebly-toothed crest which sinks abruptly at the junction of the 
body and tail; in that of the female at the same period of the 
year, a slight ridge along the back; the toes of the male in the 
spring and summer webbed at their bases ; the tail a little larger 
than the head and body, compressed and furnished above and 
below with a crest terminating in a point; the skin either 
smooth or only shghtly tuberculated; pores on the head and 
parotoid regions, and no fold on the throat. The colour above is 
brown or grey, spotted with black. The dorsal crest is marked 
with upright black bars, which are broad and narrow alternately. 
On the side of the body and tail there is a white band having 
black edges. There are small black dots on the throat, and the 
under parts are immaculate. 
During the breeding season, the adult males of all the Newts 
which have now been described are furnished with dorsal crests, 
but all the other members of the genus, at every season of the 
year, are crestless on their back. 
The Greenish Newt (Wolge viridescens) has a head longer than 
broad, and bearing three longitudinal grooves ; a truncated snout ; 
in the place of a dorsal crest, a small ridge; very strong hind 
limbs, much dilated and furnished on their inner surfaces, in the 
case of the male, during the breeding season, with black rough- 
nesses ; fingers and toes which are depressed and free, the outer 
and inner toes on each foot being very short; a tail longer than 
the head and body, much compressed, and provided above and 
below with a crest; the skin either quite smooth or slightly 
tuberculated ; three large pores on each side of the head, behind 
the eyes, and no fold on the throat. The upper parts of the body 
are reddish or greenish-brown, often spotted with black. On each 
side of the back there are several dark-edged red spots. There is 
a dark stripe on either side of the head, which passes through the 
eye. The under parts are red or orange spotted with black. 
