16,2 Taylor: Philippine Turtles 127 
Description of species——(From a living adult specimen," 
belonging to W. Schultze, Manila, P. I., collected in Palawan.) 
Head moderately large, completely retractile. Snout slightly 
peaked just above nostrils, curving in profile from nostrils to 
mouth; nostrils anterior, very close together; upper jaw with 
a distinct bicuspid hook;, top of head covered with smooth skin, 
skin in temporal region and on side of head distinctly lined and 
broken; a slight elevation across skull just behind eyes; head 
somewhat depressed in occipital region; carapace smooth, dis- 
tinctly flattened on top, with an obscure keel from nuchal along 
median line to supracaudals, more prominent posteriorly ; a slight 
broad depression on each side of keel; five vertebral shields, all 
distinctly broader than long, except first, which is as broad as . 
long, all narrower than the three anterior costals ; costals dis- 
tinctly broader than long, except last, which is longer than broad; 
eleven marginals on each side; nuchal very small, a little longer 
than broad; supracaudals moderate, not or scarcely notched be- 
hind; carapace somewhat serrated on posterior border, smoothly 
rounded laterally and with an irregular border anteriorly; plas- 
tron about as large as opening of shell, anterior part extending 
a little beyond anterior edge of carapace, posterior part not 
extending as far as carapace; a transverse hinge between hyo- 
plastron and hypoplastron, this hinge not corresponding to suture 
between pectoral and abdominal shields; however, plastron flex- 
ible on suture between pectorals and abdominal shields; gular 
shields triangular, their anterior edges truncate, forming a 
Straight line, their mutual suture much longer than that between 
humerals; a slight but distinct notch between humerals and 
gulars on edge of plastron; suture between humerals and pec- 
torals forming a wavy line; suture between pectorals and ab- 
dominals curving strongly, convex posteriorly; mutual suture 
of Pectorals longer than that of other shields; suture of pectorals 
with marginals much shorter than that of abdominals with mar- 
. Sinals; suture between abdominals and femorals curved slightly 
convex posteriorly; suture between anals and femorals strongly 
curved convex anteriorly ; anals with a curved notch, their mutual 
suture longer than that of femorals; intercalary, axillary, and 
inguinal shields very small; on anterior part of humerals a trace 
: @ Straight suture corresponding to hinge; the two elements 
— by the suture are entirely coalesced; anterior part of 
oreleg covered with irregular enlarged shields; digits five, partly 
cans am under obligation to Mrs. W. Schultze for the privilege of de- 
ing this specimen. 
