170 OUR REPTILES. 



The present newt differs generically from the 

 Common Newt, that is, the difference is of such 

 a nature as to warrant its exclusion from the 

 same genus which includes the Common Newt, 

 and its being placed in another, and a new 

 genus, under the name of Ommatotriton. From 

 his remarks, it would appear that Professor Bell 

 considered the specimens above alluded to as 

 veritably indigenous, for he says, " There is no 

 reason to doubt that they are British, and there 

 is ground for believing that they were taken at 

 no great distance from London." His sole 

 objection seemed to be that he did not regard 

 them as different from his own Palm -footed 

 Newt, and he quotes Dr. Gray's letter to him on 

 the subject, which would probably not be so 

 decided then as now ; for, as it will be hereafter 

 seen, Dr. Gray is more convinced than ever that 

 he was right, and that Professor Bell was 

 wrong. 



The letter quoted is to the following effect : 

 " My Salamandra vittata (meaning the present 

 species), which has been figured by Guerin,* who 

 has adopted my name, belongs to the same 

 group as the former (Triton cristatus). It agrees 

 with it in having the crest interrupted over the 

 loins, and chiefly differs from it in having smaller 



* Guerin, " Icon. Keg. Animal," 17, t. 28, 2. 



