76 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS. 



tion, and then tear off more, till entirely free. Occasionally 

 you may see only small remnants of these filmy garments hanging 

 among the water-weeds, so that one cannot affirm that invariably 

 the slough is cast in one way or another. One of my newts cast 

 its coat three times during the summer, another twice, and in 

 another bowl containing three individuals, I found only two 

 sloughs ; but then more might have cast and eaten that did not 

 fall under my observation. 



MOLGE CRISTATA. 



This species, commonly known as the " great water newt," 

 is large only by comparison with the other British species, 

 which are much smaller, as it rarely attains six inches in 

 length. It is also called the " warty newt," from the excre- 

 scences on its skin, similar to those of the toad, and secreting 

 humours, only in a less degree; but, from having always a moist 

 skin, not to be observed as in the toad. My newts were in 

 my hands very frequently, but I never discovered anything in the 

 slightest degree unpleasant in them. They have large prominent 

 eyeballs, which, like those of the frogs and toads, are seen 

 within the mouth. The teeth are very fine, and those on the 

 palate can be felt with the finger. This is the Triton cristatus 

 of Bell and Cooke, and it has a long list of synonyms besides. 

 It is the newt on the bank in the frontispiece, and below it, in 

 the water, is a female of the same species, and without a crest. 

 Both are about the natural size. In colour this newt varies slightly, 

 but is generally very dark above. Those in my possession are so 

 black that the warts are only discernible as inequalities, but the 

 breast and belly are of a bright orange with black spots. Espe- 

 cially handsome are the males during the spring, when, decked 

 out in their frills and fringes, they "a wooing go." At this season 

 a fine dorsal crest, sometimes half an inch high, appears. It 

 begins on the head, between the eyes, increasing in width towards 

 the middle of the back, decreasing towards the tail, and again 

 conspicuous on the latter. It is deeply notched and very orna- 

 mental. Besides this decoration the tail has now a broad, silvery 

 white stripe on each side, the whole length of it ; and as at this 

 time of the year the newt takes entirely to the water, and is actively 

 swimming about, the white band flashes in the light with an effect 

 as if the long, streaming tail were split, or forked, like a pennon. 

 A slighter undenticulated crest borders the tail below also, causing 

 it to appear much wider than at other times. The head of the 

 male is broader than that of the female, and the colours are much 

 more vivid. 



