HERPETOLOGY OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF BADEN. 215 



slight tendency towards greenish tints in the spring costume of the 

 male, but otherwise the coloration has always been normal. The 

 crest varies individually in height, and by far the finest I have 

 seen in this respect were caught in the so-called " Badloch," on 

 the Kaiserstuhl.* 



These crests are sometimes jagged and torn, perhaps from 

 passing through the branches of brambles, &c. (such as often 

 obstruct ponds), where they must be rather a hindrance. 



But I am told they are useful as a protection against pike 

 and other fish, which dislike the look of the serrated edge. A 

 somewhat similar instance is that of the male Minnow enjoying 

 a temporary immunity, as I am assured, from the attacks of 

 larger fish,' which perhaps have unpleasant recollections of the 

 Stickleback, and are suspicious, at this season, of the family (?) 

 likeness. I have not settled either of these points to my own 

 satisfaction, but analogous examples show that many ornamental 

 characters would not be so highly developed unless serving, at 

 the same time, for practical purposes. 



This applies to the ocelli of certain butterflies (' Tropical 

 Nature,' 1st ed. p. 202), to the horns of stags, rattle of the 

 Rattlesnake, and other structures ; as well as to many of the 

 secreting glands in various classes of animals. The voice, too, 

 is generally of use in more ways than one, though, as we descend 

 the scale, its functions and expressions naturally become less 

 complex. It is absent, as a rule, among reptiles. Still there 

 are exceptions, and J. v. Fischer, writing of that of the Gecko, 

 distinguishes between the (original ?) call-note heard during the 

 breeding season and the other tones employed under the influence 

 of fright, pain, or anger. The South European Tropidosaura is 

 likewise gifted with a powerful voice, the possession of which 

 would seem hardly advantageous to an animal of its habits, did 

 we not know, on the authority of the same writer, that its arch- 

 enemy, Coronella girondica, " lets it drop on the first scream." 



* I cannot sufficiently recommend this locality to the notice of the many 

 English naturalists who pass through Freiburg. For mineralogists it is 

 probably unique, and without mentioning any of its special attractions, 

 I may refer them to Prof. Knop, of Karlsruhe, who has visited this district 

 annually for the past twenty-six years, and is most obliging in giving 

 information of all sorts. Owing to its peculiar soil and situation, the plant 

 and insect life are also highly interesting. 



