1895.] DB. J. DB BEDEIAGA ON TILE PXBENEAN NEWT. 151 



elongate, slightly narrowed, rounded, blunt or distinctly truncate, 

 projecting beyond the mouth. Canthus rostralis more or less 

 distinct. Eyes Literal, moderately large, prominent on the upper 

 surfi ce of the head, which is flattened ; the distance between them 

 is rather less than between the nostrils and distinctly less than 

 the distance from the latter to the eyes. The diameter of the eye, 

 or rather the distance between anterior aud posterior corner of 

 the eye, is less than that between the eye and the nostril. The 

 upper eyelid is narrower than the interpalpebral space. Nostrils 

 rather large, close to the border of the snout, lateral, pierced just 

 below the canthus rostralis, and therefore rather distant from the 

 lip, though nearer to it than the eyes. Labial lobes well developed 

 during the breeding-season, especially in males. Cleft of the 

 mouth extending beyond the posterior corner of the eye. Tongue 

 small, elliptical, slightly free along the sides. Palatine teeth in 

 two slightly curved series, commencing on a line with the choanae 

 and in contact anteriorly, diverging gradually backwards and 

 forming almost a ^-shaped figure. Grular fold distinct. No 

 parotoids. 



Body stout, rounded or depressed (var. rugosa), longer in females 

 than in males ; no dorsal crest ; longitudinal dorsal groove present 

 or absent. Limbs moderate, clumsy ; hind limbs stronger in the 

 male, with a hardly visible fibulo-tarsal dilatation, when carried 

 forwards along the body reaching to the middle of the space 

 between hind and fore limbs or extending a little beyond ; in 

 females the hind limbs are always shorter than the above-mentioned 

 length. Tore limbs, when brought forwards, reaching the anterior 

 corner of the eye or slightly beyond, the latter being especially the 

 case in females. Fingers and toes free, depressed aud rather 

 short : the fingers are somewhat longer and thinner in the female. 



Anal lips forming in the male a nearly semiglobulous promi- 

 nence like that of M. cristata, but with a longitudinal cleft not 

 extending so far anteriorly, but occupying only the posterior half 

 of the anal prominence. After the breeding-season the anal 

 prominence sometimes assumes, especially in specimens from the 

 Lac de Gaube, the shape of an obtuse cone. In females the anal 

 prominence is pear-shaped or conical, with a short longitudinal 

 cleft turned quite backwards ; this cleft does not extend over the 

 lower surface of the anal prominence. During the pairing and 

 oviposition the summit of the cone is slightly directed downwards, 

 but never to that extent which is the case in specimens preserved in 

 alcohol ; this cone has in living specimens never the length which 

 it acquires as soon as the newt is put into spirit of wine. 



Tail thick and rounded at the base, then becoming gradually 

 compressed, ending in a more or less obtuse point, sharp-edged 

 or keeled above in its posterior part : beneath, a more or less sharp 

 edge is seen sometimes only at the very eijd of the tail. The tail 

 is low and as long as head and body or longer in the female : higher, 

 thicker, and shorter than head and body in the male. In the 

 former the length of the hind limb is generally contained thrice in 



