GREAT WATER NEWT. 147 



full period of efthood is arrived at, when, the 

 crested male having attained the dimensions of 

 a perfect gentleman-newt, may take to himself a 

 spouse, or the more soberly attired lady- newt 

 lend a willing ear or eye to the advances of the 

 other sex. 



At the close of the first year the length of the 

 triton is about two inches, of the second year 

 three inches, of the third year four inches, and at 

 the expiration of the fourth year it has reached 

 from five to six inches, thus adding annually 

 about an inch to its length. 



In its earliest terrestrial state the skin is but 

 slightly rough, and through the first and second 

 year very little change takes place in this respect j 

 but at the close of the third year the skin becomes 

 manifestly rougher, which attains the perfection 

 of its warted appearance in the fourth year. 



During the first and second year there is 

 scarcely any difference in the sexes ; but during 

 the breeding season in the third year, the male 

 aspires to an incipient crest, the tail expands, 

 and a permanent silvery stripe appears along 

 either side. The average weight of the triton at 

 the close of each of the first four years is thus 

 given by the observer already quoted : At the 

 end of the first year 25 grains, of the second year 

 54 grains, of the third year 75 grains, and of the 

 fourth year 134 grains. Hence, we learn that 

 L 2 



