346 MR. E. G. BOULENGER ON THE 



Since the publication of the above conclusions, Dr. Kammerer 

 has instituted a series of experiments with the object of showing 

 that the colour and dampness of the soil has an influence on the 

 increase or reduction of the yellow nmrkings, and the results of 

 some of the experiments have been recently published, with figures, 

 in the German paper ' ISTatur ' (15). 



In view of the geographical distribution of the typical form and 

 the var. tceniata, which I have endeavoured to trace from a large 

 material, Dr. Kammerer's results are surprising, for the pictures 

 given by him show the oflfspring of a female of the typical form, 

 presumably from Austria, to belong to the var. tceniata. Con- 

 sidering the enormous number of specimens of the two forms 

 which he has kept in his terrarium, is the possibility excluded of 

 some confusion having taken place ? Or may not the male have 

 belonged to the latter variety, and have transmitted his chai'acters 

 to the offspring ? Then, again, as to the changes in markings 

 taking place in the same individual in the course of growth, may 

 not some error of identification have crept in ? After the study 

 I have made of the disposition of the markings, I can hardly 

 refrain from expressing a doubt as to the middle specimen of the 

 left-hand lower series on fig. 1 being the same as the one to its 

 right, for it will be observed that the two yellow stripes or series 

 of spots are much more distant from each other in the younger 

 stage than in the older, and this is a change diificult to conceive 

 to have taken place in one and the same individual. In fact, wei'e 

 it not for the statement of so high an authority as Dr. Kammerer, 

 whose experiments appear to have been conducted with so much 

 skill, care, and patience, I think I would not have hesitated 

 in pronouncing the two figures in question to have been taken 

 from different individuals. 



References. 



1. Aldrovandi, U. — De Quadrupedibus Digitatis Oviparis. 



Lib. i. (Bonn, 1637.) 



2. Bedriaga, J. von. — Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Amphibien 



und Reptilien der Fauna von Corsika. Arch. f. N^aturg. 



1883, p. 252. 

 3. Die Lurchfauna Europa's.— II. Urodela. Bull. Soc. 



Nat. Moscou, 1896 (1897). 

 4. Betta, E. de. — Monografia degli Anfibi Urodeli Italiani. 



Mem. Istit. Veneto, xi. 1864, pp. 495, 516. 

 6. Bonaparte, C. L. — Iconografia della Fauna Italica.. Vol. ii. 



6. Camerano, L. — Monografia degli Anfibi Drodeli Italiani. 



Mem. Ace. Tor. (2) xxxvi. 1884, p. 405, 2 pis. 



7. D'Orbigny, C. — Dictionnaired'Histoire Naturelle, xi. (Paris, 



1849.) Art. Salamandre. 



8. DouMERGUE, F. — Essai sur la Faune Erpetologique de 



I'Oranie. (Oran, 1901.) 



9. DuMEBiL ife Bibron.— Erpetologie Generale, ix. (Paris, 1854.) 



