COMMON SMOOTH-NEWT. 151 



duction, very much developed, and are continuous ; the 

 margin is crenate throughout its length, and posteriorly 

 deeply festooned. The colour varies very much in the 

 course of the year, and even in different individuals at the 

 same period. That of the male is also very different from 

 that of the female. The former is brownish grey above, 

 passing into yellow beneath, which in the spring becomes a 

 rich bright orange ; marked everywhere with round dark 

 spots of unequal size. On the head are two or more 

 longitudinal streaks. The crenations of the crest, in the 



spring season, are often tipped with bright red or violet. 

 The female is usually light yellowish brown, or even 

 buff with scattered brown dots, and the belly often quite 

 plain. 



In. Lines. 



Total length . ... 3 7 



Length of tail . . '<?.. 'HV 1 8 



This species appears to be liable to considerable varia- 

 tion in colour and markings. I possess a female specimen 

 which is of a very dark brown above, and the belly mi- 

 nutely punctated with black ; and there is a space or band 

 running along the side almost bare of spots. But the most 

 remarkable variety is that which has been described by 

 Mr. Gray and after him by Mr. Jenyns as a species, under 

 the name of Triton vittatus, the ground colour of which is 

 white, " 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." I have carefully exa- 

 mined the specimens in the British Museum, and am 



