294 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OF 



dicated 360 lbs. ' ' Dimensions : His weight was 360 pounds ; length from tip 

 of nose to end of tail seven feet and one inch ; breadth round the shoulders, 

 thickest part, five feet two inches ; length from tip of nose to end of jaw, cov- 

 ering the gills, two feet four inches ; circumference of mouth, when braced 

 open, three feet two inches ; spread of tail from tip to tip, two feet three 

 inches." 



Dr. R. E. Rogers remarked upon the great interest excited by these 

 specimens, and on motion a Committee was appointed to investigate 

 their nature, and to procure from Mr. Davidson further information 

 regarding their occurrence. 



The thanks of the Academy were then ordered to be tendered to Mr. 

 Davidson for his valuable donation received this evening. 



Nov. 29th. 

 Mr. Lea, President, in the Chair. 



Thirty-eight members present. 



The Proceedings of the Biological Department for tbe present month 

 were read. 



The following papers, on report of the respective Committees^ were 

 ordered to be printed in the Proceedings. 



Kotos and Descriptions of Foreign Eeptiles. 

 BY. E. D. COPE. 

 TESTUD1NATA. 



The following species of Tortoises were brought by Mr. P. B. Duchaillu from 

 equatorial West Africa, the present Autumn. 



Kinixys erosa Gray. This curious species appears to be abundant through- 

 out Gaboon, and the country of the Gamma aud Ogobai. Its range northward 

 extends as far as the Gambia. 



Sternothaerus Derbianus Gray. Length, including head and neck, 14 

 in. 8 lin.; length of plastron, 6 in. 6 lin.; greatest breadth of do., 5 in.; breadth 

 of head just before the tympani, 2 in. 5 lin. 



Inhabits swamps in the Cainma country. 



This is probably the above named species, but judging from figures and 

 descriptions, it approaches closely the S. s i nu at u s Smith, of South Africa, 

 differing mainly in the form of the upper mandible, which is obtusely hooked 

 in the former, bidentate in the latter. The habits of the two appear to differ ; 

 the S. African species inhabiting deep rivers, and remaining long at a time 

 beneath the surface. It^s considered by Dr. Gray (Catalogue Brit. Mus.) as 

 identical with the S. caftaneusM, but there is a manifest discrepancy 

 between Smiths description, and the brief one of castaneus in the "Cata- 

 logue," principally with regard to tbe form of the vertebral scuta. The 

 resemblance to the S. Derbianus is much closer, but judging as before, it 

 is our impression that it is distinct from both. 



Heptathyra nob. 

 Cartilaginous border obsolete at the sides of the disc, and destitute of ossicles 

 posteriorly. Sternum with two cartilaginous flaps, which cover the posterior 

 extremities when retracted. Sternal callosities seven; one on each side cor- 

 responding to the closely connected hyo- and hyposternals, one to each of the 



[Nov. 



