156 SALAMANDRAD^E. 



Wolley, some excellent observations on the nomenclature of 

 the Newts by Mr. Newman, and finally, a short but most 

 clear and decisive note from M. Julian Deby, who at once 

 set the question at rest, by giving a comparative view of 

 the tails of this and of the common species, with notes of 

 their distinctive characters, and a short account of the Con- 

 tinental authorities on the subject. The figure in Dandin of 

 his Salamandra palmipes is indeed so characteristic, that 

 had I consulted, as on any other occasion I should have 

 done, this excellent author, I could not have committed the 

 mistake into which I was led by implicit reliance upon an 

 authority which never, on any other occasion, failed me. 



The first intimation we have of this species as dis- 

 tinct, is in the " Histoire Naturelle du Jorat," of M. 

 Razoumowski, who there terms it " Salamandre Suisse" 

 Latreille, with great propriety, changed this name to that 

 of " 8. palmipede ," in which he was followed by Sonnini. 

 It inhabits the midland countries of Europe, having been 

 found, as M. Deby observes, "by Fournelle in the depart- 

 ment de la Moselle, by Sturm in Germany, by E-azou- 

 mowski in Switzerland, by Latreille in France, and by 

 De Selys, Van Haesendonck, and myself in Belgium." 



I now proceed to detail the principal distinctions 

 which exist between this and the common British species, 

 L. punctatus. 



The whole animal is smaller ; the head flatter, broader 

 in proportion, and beautifully marbled ; the body has two 

 distinct lateral carinse above, and two less conspicuous ones 

 beneath, giving to it somewhat of a quadrate form. The 

 crest is straight, and much less elevated than in the other 

 species, and begins further back on the neck. The hinder 

 feet of the male are palmate ; entirely so in the summer, 

 less so in the autumn, and towards winter the web is 



