24 
SEXUAL SELECTION. 
I’art ii- 
Amphibians. 
Urodela . — First for the tailed amphibians. The 
sexes of salamanders or newts often differ much both 
in colour and structure. In some species prehensile 
claws are developed on the fore-legs of the males 
during the breeding-season; and at this season in 
the male Triton palmipes the hind-feet are provided 
with a swimming web, which is almost completely 
absorbed during the winter; so that their feet then 
jig. .11. I riton cristatus (half natural size, from Bell’s ‘British Reptiles’), 
ppei figure, male during the breeding-season; lower figure, female. 
resemble those of the female . 38 This structure no doubt 
aids the male in his eager search and pursuit of the 
female. With our common newts ( Triton punctatus 
and cristatus ) a deep, much-indented (west is developed 
along the back and tail of the male during the breed- 
ing-season, being absorbed during the winter. It is 
not furnished, as Mr. St. George Mivart informs me, 
3S Bell, ‘ History of British Beptiles,’ 2nd edit. 1849, p. 156-159. 
