408 CLASS REPTILIA. 



colour according to age, sex, and season, and that 

 the crests and other ornaments of the males, are 

 not well developed until spring. When winter sur- 

 prises them with gills, they preserve them until the 

 following year, always increasing in size.* 

 The best characterized are, 



The MarUed Salamander , {S. Marmorata, Latreille. 

 Triton Gesneri, Laurenti,) 



With chagreened skin, pale green above, with large 

 irregular brown spots ; brown, pointed with white 

 underneath ; a red line along the back, which in the 

 male forms somewhat of a crest, and has black 

 spots. Not very aquatic. 



The Salamander with spotted sides, (S. Alpestrisy 

 Bechst. trad, de Lacep. pi. xx.) 



With chagreened skin ; slate-coloured, and brown 

 above ; belly orange, or red ; a band of small 

 black crowded spots along each side. 



Tlie Crested Salamander, (Sal. Cristata, Lat.,) 



With chagreened skin ; brown above, with blackish 

 spots ; orange underneath, spotted with the same ; 

 the sides painted with white. The crest of the male 

 is high, cut into sharp indentations, and bordered 

 with violet in the season of love. 



* It is of an individual which had thus preserved its gills, that Linnaeus 

 has made his Proteus Tritonins. 



