SOMERSETSHIRE REPTILES. 121 
I extract the following from Dr. Buckland’s characteristic 
note :— 
“Have you ever noticed how many species of Water 
Newts live in your stagnant ponds? We have three near 
Oxford, as plentiful in ponds remote from ducks, as once 
the Saurians were in the mud of the nascent lias.” 
In reply, Iinformed the Dean that I had paid a good 
deal of attention to these creatures, and that I had a new 
species, which I described to him. My note was handed 
over to Professor Bell, and it produced an immediate com- 
munication from that gentleman, of which the following 
is an extract :— 
“] shall be particularly glad to have some of the little 
Newts, as I think it exceedingly probable that it may 
prove to be a new species.” 
Without delay I sent four specimens in a letter. What 
a privilege to be able to send to a friend four living four- 
footed beasts in a post letter! These soon caused the follow- 
ing acknowledgment, written at Selborne, and I believe 
in the very house in which the universally admired “ His- 
tory of Selborne, by Gilbert White,” was written : 
“] thank you very sincerely for sending the Newts, 
three of which are living and in good health, in a glass 
globe. The species is undoubted]y distinct, and I believe 
undoubtedly new, not only to this country, but to science. 
I shall have an opportunity of figuring them before long 
in my second edition of the ‘ Reptiles.’ ” 
“TmomAs BELL.” 
Soon after I received the above, I had another highly 
characteristic note on the subject from Dr. Buckland, from 
which I copy the following :— 
“]J am glad to find your Salamanders are new species, 
and that you are in communication with Mr. Bell. Your 
1851, PART I. Q 
