COMMON SMOOTH-NEWT. 135 



within a folded leaf, but frequently in the axillae of the 

 leaves ; in which situation I have very often observed the 

 females in the act of placing them, and sometimes by two, 

 three, or four together. The pursuit of the male after the 

 female differs also in some respects. He follows her in 

 swimming for a considerable time ; they do not, as in the 

 former instance, necessarily rest upon the ground ; and the 

 tail of the male is doubled forwards in a sort of loop, and 

 vibrated with a rapid tremulous motion. The changes which 

 take place in the developement of the embryo are similar to 

 those already described in the former species. The seasonal 

 changes, however, are still more curious and varied than in 

 the two species of Triton, and deserve a more detailed de- 

 scription, especially as these differences have led to much 

 misunderstanding by the establishment of erroneous specific 

 names, and consequent confusion of synonyms. 



In the month of June the young animals have in many 

 cases lost their branchiae by absorption, and very soon after- 

 wards a great number of them at least quit the water, and 

 remain on land. Many of the adults also become terrestrial 

 soon after this period, creeping about amongst the herbage 

 in the neighbourhood of the water, or in damp places, fre- 

 quently concealing themselves amongst the roots of shrubs 

 and plants, and sometimes even venturing into damp cellars. 

 The males about this time lose the membranous crest and 

 enlargement of the caudal web, which had distinguished 



them during the spring. The colours also of both sexes be- 

 come more dull, and the male especially loses in a measure 



