160 OUE REPTILES. 



from the top of the head along the tail, and is 

 regularly festooned on its edge. The upper 

 parts are of a light brownish -grey, inclining to 

 olive; yellowish beneath, becoming bright orange 

 in spring, marked all over with round, black, 

 unequal spots ; on the head the spots form about 

 five longitudinal streaks ; and there is a yellowish 

 streak under the eyes. The female is much less 

 spotted than the male, the spots being smaller 

 and often very obscure, and the under parts are 

 often quite plain. It passes a great deal of its 

 time on land, when the skin loses its softness 

 and sometimes becomes wrinkled ; the toes, from 

 being flat, become round ; the membranes of the 

 back and tail entirely disappear, and all the 

 colours become more dull.* 



Entire length, from 3^ to 4 inches. 



* Lord Clermont's " Quadrupeds and Reptiles of Europe," 

 p. 264. 



FEMALE SMOOTH NEWT. 



