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Show 1895.] DB. J. DE BEDEIAGA ON THE PYEENEAN NEWT. 157 length of head and body, thicker at the base in the male, becoming gradually compressed, furnished with a low crest, ending in an obtuse point or rather broadly rounded at its end; its lower crest is generally slightly deeper than the upper one; both crests with nearly straight and parallel edges. Upper parts grey, olive shaded, or brownish grey, powdered with yellow. Back and sides of the body with or without more or less distinct yellow or greyish-yellow spots ; similar spots are generally scattered on the greyish or brownish muscular region of the tail and followed by a series of dark spots; some specimens, however, have an almost immaculate tail. Upper part of the muscular region of the tail very often with a yellow margin, the lower edge very often, and mostly in females, orange. The rather thickish caudal crest is yellowish grey, or grey spotted and punctulated with brown or greyish brown, but always less abundantly on tbe lower and anterior portion. Throat nearly transparent, pale yellow ; belly yellow in the middle, yellowish grey on the sides- immaculate in females, dotted with brownish grey in males. The branchiae are grey or brownish above, reddish beneath. Iris dark brown, pupil with a golden margin. In deep water the larva acquires a very dark colouring and is almost immaculate. 6. 2- millim. millim. Total length 58| 56 Length of head 9 8| Breadth of head 6^ 5-6 From end of snout to anus 28| 28 Fore limb 9| 8| Hind limb 9 8± Length of tail 30 28 Depth of tail 6| 5| Geographical Distribution. M. aspera was first noticed as a Pyrenean species by Duges, Dumeril and Bibron from Eaux-Bonnes, later on by Philippe from the Lac Bleu (Triton glacialis, in Seance de l'Acad. de Mont-pellier, 1847, p. 20), and more recently from the Lac d'Oncet, Pic du Midi (F. Lataste, 1. c), from Cauterets (Valery Mayet), and from the Lac de Gaube (F. Miiller). This newt occurs also but rather scarcely in the Lac d'Oo and near the Pont d'Espagne in the river Gave. In North Spain it has been recorded from different points, such as La Junquera, Cerdania, Panticosa (Bosca, in Bull. Soc. Zool. de France, t. v. p. 247). Habits. The distribution of M. aspera in the Pyrenean region is not as yet exactly ascertained. W e only know that this species occurs in lakes in the high mountains, and that it is common enough in |