CLASS BA TRA CHI A . 87 



Order CAUDATA. 

 Family SALAMANDRID^. 



Gemts MOLGE, Merr. 



Molge cristata, Laur. GREAT WATER NEWT. Locally, "WATER 



SWIFT." 



Common, and found throughout the county. 



Molge vulgaris, Linn. COMMON NEWT OR EFT. Locally, 

 "WATER SWIFT." 



This is well named the Common Newt, being abundant 

 everywhere in suitable localities, and much more frequent 

 than either of the other species. 



Molge palmata, Schmit. PALMATED NEWT. 



This is not rare. I have found it in several parts of Essex, 

 and abundantly in a pond on Donyland Heath. I have 

 probably observed its occurrence more than I should other- 

 wise have done from the fact of the late Mr. Baker, of Bridg- 

 water, the discoverer of the species as an inhabitant of Britain 

 (vide Bell's British Reptiles, 1849, p. 155), having shown me, 

 in 1846, some of the first examples he captured. 



Mr. G. A. Boulenger, says (Zool., 1886, p. 250) 

 Molge palmata is quite abundant in a small pit near 

 Chingford Station, in company with M. cristata and M. 

 vulgaris. Previous papers by this gentleman had given the 

 distribution of the Palmated Newt in Scotland and England, 

 and it is gratifying to add Essex to the list of English 

 counties where it is found. The record is noted by the 

 editor of the Essex Naturalist (vol. i., p. 8), who quotes also 

 from Mr. Boulenger, the distinguishing marks of the two 

 allied species in their winter attire, 



