﻿OADUCIBRANCHIATE [JRODELE BATRAOHIANS. 359 



and the underpart of the tail presents constantly a line or vitta oi* a yellow color, 

 more or less marked." — Dum. et Bib. 



Dumeril and Bibron, who have had frequent opportunities of observing these 

 animals alive, describe three varieties — 1. Very large, of the size of Salamandra 

 maculosa ; blackish above, yellow spots under the jaw in the male, and under part of 

 tail in the female yellow, without spots. Var. 2. A little more than half the size of 

 the first. Brownish above, or greyish in the males, yellow color of abdomen less deep ; 

 these varieties perhaps the affect of age. Var. 3. Triton carnifex ; females of small 

 size ; no dorsal crest, replaced for the most part by a yellow line prolonged upon the 

 tail. What distinguishes most, however, this variety is the pale yellow or whitish 

 color of the abdomen, with large black rounded spots ; but rarely spotted in the 

 middle region. Length 4£ inches long, (Fr.) 



Habitat. — Common in Europe, (abundant in N. of France,) found in the coldest 

 regions, (N. Africa, Schlegel.) 



77 specimens in Mus. Acad. Nat. Sci., Bonap. col., presented by Dr. Wilson ; one 

 specimen without name or locality. 



Triton marmoratus, Latreille. 



Char. — Body rough or warty, sometimes of a light green, or more or less deep with 

 marbled black spots, more or less confluent, or with spots of a brownish red upon a 

 ground of deeper brown ; for the most part a yellow line, or band, or of a beautiful 

 carmine red, extending the whole length, of the back from the nucha as far as the 

 middle portion of the tail ; the under part of the body varies, sometimes it is black or 

 of a venous red, with white points, more or less sparse, and grouped together ; some- 

 times it is very pale." — Dum. et Bib. 



Dumeril and Bibron, who have especially observed this Triton, living and of dif- 

 ferent ages, describe three varieties : 1. A line of a beautiful red, almost carmine, 

 extends all along the middle line of the back and tail, changing sometimes into orange 

 yellow ; throat and abdomen reddish venous brown, with small white points ; under 

 part of the tail of the same red color. 2. Brown above, with a very pale yellow dorsal 

 line ; no spots upon the under part of the abdomen ; under part of the tail red or 

 orange yellow. 3. One fourth the size of the first, perhaps the young ; light grey 

 above, with a dorsal yellow line ; rounded spots and black markings upon the sides ; 

 sides of a uniform brown color ; under part of the body reddish, without any spot, 

 or very distinct white spots. " Most authors," observe Dumeril and Bibron, " regard 

 Triton marmoratus as a variety of Triton cristatus." 



Habitat. — Whole of France, especially the southern portion. 



Remarks. — We have in the Bonaparte collection a single specimen marked Triton 



