TRITON.] AMPHIBIA CADUCIBRANCHIA. 305 



bably of Linnaeus also), the Triton vulgaris of Fleming, the Brown 

 Lizard of Pennant, and the Common Newt of Shaw. By these authors, 

 the variety in question is considered as a distinct species, an opinion to 

 which I was formerly myself inclined. I am, however, now perfectly 

 satisfied, from the examination of a large number of specimens, that it 

 is identical with the aquatic kind, and that all its peculiarities may be 

 traced to the change of circumstances under which it is placed. Shep- 

 pard lays great stress upon the fact of its being observed " of all sizes, 

 from one to four inches in length, but never in any other than a perfect 

 state ;" and he considers this " a sufficient proof that, like the rest of the 

 land lizards, it undergoes no change." The same circumstance is noticed 

 by Shaw, who regards it as an argument in favour of its being viviparous. 

 I suspect, however, that the period of time during which this species 

 remains in the larva state, although perhaps constant in ordinary cases, 

 is subject to much variation; and that if any thing occur to oblige the 

 young to exchange their native element for another before they would 

 naturally attain their perfect form, the gills are cast prematurely, to 

 enable the animal to accommodate itself to its new circumstances. The 

 fact of such small specimens, as Sheppard has noticed, being found on 

 land is indisputable, but I think I have generally observed some traces 

 of there having been gills at no very long period before. I may just add, 

 that Sheppard appears to have confounded, as Pennant had done before 

 him, the males of these reptiles, when possessing the dorsal and caudal 

 fins, with the larvae. 



6. T. mttatuS) Gray. (Striped Eft.) Body smooth, 

 without pores; lateral line of pores distinct; top of the 

 head with two porous bands : dorsal and caudal crests 

 irregularly and deeply notched. 

 T. vittatus, Gray s Mss. 



DIMENS. Entire length four inches six lines. 



DESCRIPT. Skin smooth : top of the head and parotids with scattered 

 pores : a series of distant pores on the lower part of the sides between 

 the fore and hind legs. Male in summer with a high, deeply notched, 

 dorsal crest, commencing in front of the eyes, and with a deep notch over 

 the vent ; continued into a low entire crest extending the whole length 

 of the tail. Colour white (yellow? when alive), with unequal black 

 spots; tail black; belly, under sides of the legs and tail, and a broad 

 streak along each side of the body and tail, white. 



Var. (3. Throat white, with a few spots ; upper part of the tail pale, 

 black-spotted : dorsal crest very low ; caudal crest distinct. 



Var. y. Above black, beneath white; throat black-spotted: dorsal 

 crest none. 



A new species, discovered in ponds near London, by J. E. Gray, Esq. 

 to whom I am indebted for the above description. It differs remarkably 

 from both the preceding species in the form of the dorsal crest, and in 

 the disposition of the colours. From the T. palustris, it may be further 

 distinguished by its smooth skin. 



U 



