214 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



assuming curious contortions, like many newts and the species 

 in question, and can be observed to bend their spine inwards, 

 covering their eyes with their feet.* 



From this class of devices the transition to those directly 

 calculated to inspire terror is again so gradual that it is often 

 difficult (for us) to decide what impression some of them are 

 intended to convey. Examples of this method are comparatively 

 rare among the Amphibia. I will only refer to Rana arvalis, 

 which, more than the other frogs, is fond of inflating itself with 

 air, no doubt in the hope of imposing by its size. Judging by a 

 large number of individuals, I gather that the females are more 

 addicted to this habit. 



It is doubtful whether B. igneus, Laur., will ever be found in 

 Baden. " It is certainly absent in the whole river-system of the 

 Rhine above Bonn, and its existence on the lower Rhine is still 

 very doubtful, whereas B. bombinus, this " typical mountain form, 

 appears solely as perpetual resident of the plain in the upper 

 valley of the Rhine (i. e. Baden), and seems here to take the 

 place of B. igneus" (Wolterstorff, J 890). 



Order II. Urodela. — Fam. Tritonidje. 



1. T.cristatus, Laur. (cuclocephalus, Fatio). — " Generally dis- 

 tributed, but not common," is said of this newt in most local 

 faunas of Germany. The same applies to Baden. I have been 

 informed of its occurrence in most parts of the country, except 

 the higher ground of the Black Forest, but never in great 

 numbers. At Karlsruhe a pair or two may usually be seen in a 

 pond near the entrance of the Wildpark, where I have obtained 

 pretty specimens of the camifex stage : I have caught it in other 

 ponds there, in the Durlacher Wald and various places. In the 

 Palatinate it is considered " not very abundant." 



The conditions of the country seem suitable to cristatus, and it 

 attains full size (16 cm.) and bright colours. I have observed a 



* " Comine pour ne point voir le danger," says Fatio. Or perhaps to 

 conceal their brilliancy ? It would be impossible to overrate the importance 

 of such an item, considering the enemies with which many protective species 

 have to deal. The Woodcock, for instance, is often betrayed solely by its eyes. 

 Darwin's Patagonian lizard, " when frightened, flattened its body, closed its 

 eyes, ;ind then from its mottled tints was hardly distinguishable from the 



surrounding sand." But this movement may be purely instinctive. 





