Archive image from page 36 of The descent of man, and. The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex descentofmansele187302darw Year: 1873 Chap. XII.] AMPHIBIANS. 23 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 resemble those of the This struct- Fig. 31.—Triton cristatns (half natural size, from Bell's 'British Eeptiles1). Upper figure, male during the 'breeding-season ; lower figure, female. ure no doubt aids the male in his eager search
Archive image from page 36 of The descent of man, and. The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex descentofmansele187302darw Year: 1873 Chap. XII.] AMPHIBIANS. 23 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 resemble those of the This struct- Fig. 31.—Triton cristatns (half natural size, from Bell's 'British Eeptiles1). Upper figure, male during the 'breeding-season ; lower figure, female. ure no doubt aids the male in his eager search and pursuit of the female. With our common newts [Triton punc- tatus and cristatus) a deep, much indented crest is devel- oped 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, with muscles, and therefore cannot be used for locomotion. As during the season of courtship it becomes edged with bright colors, it serves, there can hardly be a doubt, as a masculine ornament. In many species the body presents strongly-contrasted though lurid tints ; and these become more vivid during the breeding-season. The male, for instance, of our common little newt {Triton punetatus) is ' brownish gray above, passing into yellow beneath, which »fcBcll, 'History of British Reptiles,' 2d edit. 1849, rp 150-159
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