164 OUR EEPTILES. 



Society specimens were exhibited.* Its habits 

 do not apparently differ from those of the 

 common smooth newt. The males show the 

 same lateral curvature of the tail, with a rapid 

 vibration of its lash-like extremity during the 

 love season. The slough is cast entire, and, in 

 most cases, immediately swallowed by its owner. f 

 In pointing out the distinctions to be observed 

 between this species and its allies, Professor 

 Bell notes that " the whole animal is smaller ; 

 the head flatter, broader in proportion, and 

 beautifully marbled. 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 scarcely broader than 

 in the smooth newt in the full season. The tail 

 is not much more than half the depth, termi- 

 nating rather abruptly, and furnished at its ex- 

 tremity with a small filament, which varies in 

 length from two to four lines, in the female 

 dwindling to a mere mucronation. The colours 

 of the back and sides are more clear and bright, 

 although generally darker. The spots are more 

 numerous and often confluent; and the tail has 



* See " Proceedings of Zool. Soc., 1863," p. 159. 

 t E. W. H. Holdsworth, Zoologist, p. 8640. 



