102 ON COLOUR-CHANGES OF THE SPOTTED SALAMANDER. 



Plate II, shows the nine Salamanders kept during aquatic life 

 iu yellow suiToundings on or just prior to their transformation, 

 and it will be observed that six are referable to the typical form, 

 two are somewhat doubtful, and one only could possibly be 

 regarded as belonging to the variety tonniata. Plate I. shows 

 those kept in black aquaria, and it will be noticed that the spots 

 ai-e disposed in parallel series, as would be expected from the 

 offspring of Ssdamaiiders of the striped variety. 



On transformation the young of specimens of the variety 

 tceniata from the Fiench Jura, which is, as referred to above, 

 on the line of demarcation where both forms occur, are often 

 referable to the typical form ; the spots, however, in the course 

 of time change their disposition, breaking up, and disappeai'ing 

 on the vertebral area, so that within a year the Salamanders are 

 similar to their parents in the arrangement of their markings. 

 I have no doubt that we shall find this to be the case with the 

 Salamanders which in their larval form have been brought up in 

 yellow surroundings, and that the spots will in time assume 

 the same duplex disposition as presented by their pai'ents, 

 and brethren brought up when in the larval form in black 

 surroundings. 



