Class III. LESSER WATER-NEWT. 53 



viewed with a lens of even moderately magni- 

 fying power, exhibits very distinctly the ramifi- 

 cations of the blood-vessels dispersed through 

 it ; but if examined by the microscope is per- 

 haps of all other objects that can be selected 

 for that purpose, the most eligible for exhibiting 

 a general view of the circulation; shewing, in 

 the most distinct and beautiful manner, the 

 rapid current of the blood, the particles of 

 which, in this animal, as well as in the rest of 

 the Amphibia, are of an oval form, not round, 

 as in the Mammalia. In the greater Water- 

 Newt, on the contrary, this part being nearly 

 opake, can by no means advantageously ex- 

 hibit the same phenomenon. The female is 

 almost destitute of the dorsal crest, but the 

 tail is furnished with an approach to it, though 

 far less conspicuous than in the male. The 

 general color of the male is olive brown beauti- 

 fully and distinctly marked with numerous, 

 round, black spots, dispersed over every part 

 of the animal, but largest and most conspicuous 

 on the sides and tail; the abdomen is orange- 

 colored, the black spots often appearing less 

 intense on that part than on the back. The fe- 

 male differs very considerably in color, being 

 generally of a pale yellowish brown, much less 

 distinctly spotted, and from the want of the 



VOL. III. D 



