Reptiles. 2657 



Mr. Bell, having his attention called to it, said, " It is neither T. cris- 

 tatus nor T. marmoratus, but shall be named T. Bibronii." In ex- 

 amining these, and many other kinds of animals and plants, species are 

 only to be identified by a long study of individuals in every age, sex, 

 season and situation. I am confirmed in the opinion I have expressed 

 with respect to T. Bibronii by the experience of a gentleman living in 

 the midland counties, who has devoted the most careful attention to 

 the British newts. I believe I am correct in stating that he has 

 hitherto, in that district of England, only met with the two species 

 T. cristatus and L. punctatus. At the same time it is very possible 

 that in other parts of the country there may be other species, as we 

 know there is L. palmipes : all we say is, that if T. Bibronii be really 

 distinct, we wish Mr. Bell had given characters by which we may re- 

 cognize it. 



Salamandra palmipes, Daudin. Without wishing to criticise too 

 much the very pretty and useful work of Mr. Bell, I cannot refrain 

 from remarking that the figure of the female " L. palmipes," of the 

 new edition, is not at all characteristic. It would rather represent L. 

 punctatus, from which indeed the female L. palmipes is not always 

 readily distinguished. The principal characters, the shortness of the 

 toes of the hind feet and the bluntness of the snout, are neither al- 

 luded to in the figure nor in the description ; and no account is given 

 of the less important differences of colour. I would wish, too, that 

 something had been said of the very obvious distinctions in the skele- 

 tons of the two species; but where external characters are so marked, 

 this perhaps was thought unnecessary in a popular work. It is not 

 stated that the "lateral carinas " are developed in the skin. The two 

 upper ones are very remarkable, but I even question the existence of 

 the lower ones, to which Mr. Bell alludes. Justice is hardly done to 

 the peculiar reticulated style of markings, and to the three longitudinal 

 zones of colour, which are so beautiful and characteristic. 



Rana esculenta. Mr. Bell appears to admit this as a truly British 

 species, without the slightest hesitation or warning to his readers. I 

 have formerly expressed my reasons (Zool. 1821) for doubting its true 

 claims ; not that 1 would for a moment question the fact of Mr. Bond 

 having found it at Foulmire, but only that I doubt very much whether 

 it had been there for many years. Mr. Bell does not tell us whether 

 he means that his father lived near Foulmire, by saying that he was a 

 " native of those parts," or simply that he lived in the fens. Now, 

 that the edible frog is not generally distributed in the fens I feel con- 

 fident. I constantly examined the frogs in the fens of Cambridge- 



