154 OUR REPTILES. 



sotriton 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 the 

 hinder feet fringed with a short membrane at all 

 seasons/ I may observe that the latter is not 

 the Triton 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. 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 (T. cristatus) the upper lip over- 

 hangs the under," &c.* 



Newts undergo confinement with complacency, 

 and under such circumstances their insectivorous 

 habits may render them useful. The results of 

 one of these experiments is thus recorded : 



In the fern-case I formed a small pond of water, thinking 

 that as effets are mostly found in ponds during the day, in 

 summer they would enjoy the luxury of a bath. Not so, 

 however. I never saw them voluntarily go into the water, 

 and when thrown in they always scrambled out as soon as 

 possible. The same thing occurs in keeping them in the 



* Dr. Gray, in " Proceedings of the Zoological Society," 

 1858, p. 137. 



