Dr. J. E. Gray on the Salamanders. 297 



2. Pyronicia punctata. 



Tnton punctatus, Duges, I.e. 1. 1. f. 25, 26; Bell, Brit. Rept. ed. 2. 



Triton Icevis, Higginbottom, Ann. & Mag. N. H. xii. 380. t. 1(). 

 f. 6, 7. 



Lissotriton punctatus and L. palmatus. Bell, Brit. Rept. ed. 1, 

 1839 (not Latr.). 



Pupils circular, rather larger than those of T. crista tus. 



The figures of the Smooth Newts {Lissotriton) in Mr. Bell's 

 * British Reptiles' (1839) are so destitute of character, that it is 

 impossible to refer them to the known species with certainty. The 

 figures of L. punctatus at pp. 132 and 135, appear to be that species 

 in its winter state; and the fi.gures of L. pahnipes at p. 139 appear 

 to be intended for the same species in summer, if we regard the dis- 

 position of the spots, and the height of the dorsal fin : but the fin 

 is not dentated, as it always is in that species, and the toes are 

 not proper for it in its crested state ; at the same time it bears no 

 resemblance to the true T. palmatus, which has an entire crest ; 

 nor has it the filament at the end of the tail, which is always found 

 in the crested fonn of that species. 



In the second edition (1849), Mr. Bell has referred all these 

 figures to Lissotriton punctatus, and places the figure which he for- 

 merly called L. palmatus at the head of the species, p. 143 ; but 

 it is not characteristic of it, as wanting the dentation on the crest 

 and the broad rounded end fringe of the toes, which are so charac- 

 teristic of the crested state of the species. 



Mr. Bell, believing that the form of the upper lip afforded a good 

 character for the distinction of the species of these animals, divides 

 them into two species, thus — " 1 . Lissotriton punctatus, upper lip 

 straight, not overhanging the lower (p. 132, 138, fig. 2). Lissotriton 

 palmipes, upper lip pendulous at the sides, overhanging the under 

 in a distinct festoon as far as the base of the lower jaw. Toes of 

 hinder feet fringed with a short membrane at all seasons." I may 

 observe that the latter is not the T. palmipes of Latreille, which 

 has the hind feet of the male in the breeding-season webbed ; and 

 that I believe it only differs from the former by being in the fully- 

 developed state at the season of reproduction ; and I am borne out 

 in this idea by the observations of Messrs. Higginbottom, Hogg, 

 and many others. 



The former observes : " Some Tritons have been distinguished by 

 the upper lip overhanging the lower. I have observed that in the 

 first year of Triton asper the upper lip overhangs the under consider- 

 ably at the sides ; in the second it overhangs less ; between the se- 

 cond and third year it becomes straighter, and in the fourth it over- 

 hangs again as much as in the first year. This is also very evident 

 in the Triton Icevis, in which the same changes take place." — Ann. 

 ^ Mag. N. H. 1853, xii. 375. 



"Neither kind of Triton is found in the water during the winter 

 months; but they (the brick-makers) discovered great numbers of 

 them in holes in the clav, and sometimes ten or twelve coiled to- 



