HERPETOLOGY OE THE GRAND DUCHY OF RADEN. 221 



arborea, Rana fusca, Salamandrina perspicillata, Triton cris- 

 tatus [?], and doubtless several more.* 



White coloration is not, eo ipso, a pathological condition, 

 unless accompanied by lack of pigment in the choroid lining and 

 iris, which constitutes total albinism, and entails debility of various 

 sorts. In every case its injurious effects are relative, dependent 

 both on the climatic and social circumstances in which the affected 

 individual is situated. 



Like melanism, albinism, in so far as it denotes a diminution, 

 however slight, local or universal, of the normal pigment, is due 

 to a variety of causes. It is incidental to both sexes and all ages. 

 Besides varying in degree, it differs also as to nature, being either 

 temporary or permanent, congenital or acquired, sometimes 

 hereditary, &c, — distinctions whereby it has become entitled to 

 various specific names. Being founded on a physiological diag- 

 nosis, these will apply equally to all species liable to the many 

 forms of deficient pigment ; but I venture to think that until some 

 definition of the broader term "albinism" is adopted, most of the 

 discussions on the subject will remain, so to speak, at cross 

 purposes. 



The majority of the cases above cited were albinismus uni- 

 versalis. A large proportion, nevertheless, belongs to that inter- 

 mediate type, a few instances of which are on record with our 

 own species — fair-complexioned negroes — under the name of 

 "semi-albinism." I should retain this term in preference to 

 " xanthous varieties," as several writers have employed the latter 

 to designate a not abnormal condition (blonde type of European). 

 Still, it is rather vague, and not as descriptive as the corresponding 

 "phseism." Albinismus partialis (pied varieties), so frequent 

 among warm-blooded animals, has not, to my knowlenge, been 

 observed with reptiles or batrachians. 



I am unaware of the existence of any data showing the 

 proportion of the sexes among albino animals, but have no 

 hesitation in predicting that the females will be found in the 



* In a paper by Dalla Torre on the ' Drachensage im Alpengebiet,' there 

 is a note to the effect that one of these fabulous monsters, on being killed, 

 "was found to have ten young ones in its body, one of which was quite 

 White.' Such a detail can hardly be ascribed to pure imagination, and 

 supports the view that the origin of these myths must be sought, to a large 

 extent, in the fauna of the country. 



