PALMATE NEWT. 165 



two distinct longitudinal fasciae of spots, with 

 occasionally a few between them ; but the in- 

 ferior margin is invariably and distinctly pale 

 and immediate. The female is usually paler than 

 the male ; but the spots on the tail are in general 

 more numerous, smaller, and disposed to become 

 confluent."* Indeed, so distinct and permanent 

 are the characters which separate the present 

 species from its congeners, that it seems sur- 

 prising that it remained so long without recog- 

 nition. 



In a communication made by Dr. Gray to the 

 Zoological Society in 1863, he thus adverts to 

 some points of difference between this species 

 and others : 



The T. cristatus has a circular ring-like iris, and the only 

 Batrachians which appear to have the spot on each side of 

 the iris, forming a band across the eyes, are the English 

 Lophinus punctatus and L. palmatus ; the band on the 

 eyes looking in these like a continuation of the dark streak 

 on the side of the head. I may add that the best character 

 for the distinction of these two species, which are often 

 found in the same pond, is that in L. punctatus the crest of 

 the male is scalloped on the edge, and high in front, while 

 in L. palmatus it is low in front and higher behind, and has 

 a smooth straight upper edge. The tail of the latter is also 

 always truncated, and usually appendaged at the tip.t 



* Bell's " Brit. Kept," 2nd ed., p. 156. 



f Dr. Gray, in "Proc. ZooL Soc., 1863," p. 203. 



