52 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



on the nose, spreading gradually all over the face till it is con- 

 sumed away. This summer I discovered a large female Toad in 

 which the whole face up to the eyes was literally gone, the 

 cavity of the skull being filled with maggots as large as the 

 animal's toes, yet the poor animal was still living. I have 

 noticed the same disease, but less frequently, in Frogs (Rana 

 tcmporaria), in Triton cristutus and alpcstris, and in Salamandra 

 maculosa. The Newts when attacked waste away very rapidly, 

 and in then case the sores are by no means confined to the head, 

 but break out in various parts of the bodj'. 



Notwithstanding the diligent search made for Salamanders, I 

 was unable to find a single one until the day before leaving for 

 England (September 1st), when I accidentally came across the 

 crushed body of a remarkably large female Salamandra maculosa 

 which had recently been run over in the road at St. Aubin near 

 Dieppe. Considering the lateness of the season I was surprised 

 to find that this individual contained eggs, some of which were 

 hatched, the young animals resembling Newt-tadpoles. There 

 was a pond at a short distance from the spot where it had been 

 killed, and it may have been journeying in search of such a place, 

 to serve as a nursery for its offspring, when unfortunately de- 

 stroyed by the wheel of some passing cart. I have had a pair 

 of Salamanders for twelve months in confinement, but as yet 

 have been unsuccessful in getting them to breed. Their favourite 

 food is earthworms, and I have never seen them swallow any- 

 thing else, with the exception of very small slugs, and in one 

 instance a small white grub. 



A few specimens of Triton cristaiwweie obtained at a pond 

 at La Bouille, near Rouen, in company with Triton alpcstris, the 

 latter species being far the more abundant. I obtained here a 

 variety having a large portion of the under parts black. 



The commonest Newt by far to be found in Normandy, in 

 August, was Triton alpestris, and I managed to bring home alive 

 to England about thirty specimens, several of which however have 

 since died of the disease mentioned above, many having the toes 

 and parts of the feet completely gone. They were fed on earth- 

 worms, which they ate readily, but possibly they suffered from 

 the want of some other food. Not being perfectly sure of the 

 species of this Newt, I sent some specimens to Mr. Southwell, of 

 Norwich, who kindly examined them, confirming my opinion as 



