Mr. J. Higginbottom on the British Tritons. 381 



In all other ages and periods the crest and the fringe or mem- 

 brane are absent, affording a perfect proof that the observations 

 which have been made respecting the protracted terrestrial life 

 of these animals are correct. No Tritons of the sizes denoting 

 the different ages between the tadpole state and the completion 

 of the third year possess either crest, fringe or membrane, or 

 silvery stripe along the tail, as observed in the male. 



But the most striking point of the anatomy of the Triton is 

 that which I proceed to notice ; there is not, until the comple- 

 tion of the third year, a full development of the testes in the male, 

 or the ovaria in the female. 



The Triton, from the first appearance in the tadpole state to 

 the completion of the second year, has no external appearance 

 of sex, except in the male a slight dark appearance in the situa- 

 tion of the cloaca, which requires minute observation ; and inter- 

 nally the testes and ovaries are of a very diminutive size, the 

 testes being not much larger than a coriander seed in the second 

 year, and the ova bags but just discernible. 



From the second to the third year all the signs of the male 

 and female are rapidly developed, and they are matured at the 

 lapse of three years, just at the period when the animal returns, 

 as I have stated, to its pristine element. 



I may here state, that during the winter when the Triton is in 

 a state of hibernation, both the lungs and stomach are frequently 

 found empty. 



The cutaneous surface is sufficient for the low degree of respi- 

 ration required in this state, and the processes of digestion, assi- 

 milation, &c. are equally in their lowest degree, and are in ac- 

 cordance with a general law. 



Like some other hibernating animals, the Tritons of the third 

 and fourth year are found during the cold season in the earth 

 under stones, in clusters of the magnitude of a cricket ball. 



Those of an earlier period are often found singly at a greater 

 depth under the earth as before stated. 



Observations on a new species of British Triton. 



In April 1848 Dr. Buckland, Dean of Westminster, informed 

 me of a new species of Triton, and referred me to Mr. Baker of 

 Bridgewater for information. 



On writing to that gentleman he very kindly sent me some 

 specimens, and in July following directed my attention to a paper 

 on the subject in the ' Zoologist ' (Zool. 2149) by Mr. WoUey of 

 Edinburgh. In the following month another paper appeared in 

 the same periodical by Mr. Baker of Bridgewater, and a third 

 in September by M. Julian Deby, in which the little animal is 



