116 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [Mai'., 



three-fourths, lower fourth with transverse ridges; marginal plates 

 smooth or lightly longitudinally rugose, the posterior sometimes 

 slightly serrate at joints; vertebral plates marked with heavy 

 longitudinal yellow line on each side of middle with fainter cross- 

 lines of same color; costal plates with broad median yellow 

 line extending outward, often bifurcate at distal end and some- 

 times surrounded with hieroglyphics of wavy lines of the same 

 color; marginal plates with distinct median yellow band extending 

 outward, rarely fainter bands on each side. Plastron uniform 

 lemon-yellow, convex anteriorly, deeply notched posteriorly; edge 

 of marginal plates with black spots beneath, varying in number, but 

 usually five on each side. Head very small; eyes large; head and 

 neck striped with yellow; median longitudinal bifurcated yellow- 

 Avhite line on underside of head, sometimes with white line inside 

 bifurcation and yellow line on either side. Legs and feet deep 

 brown-black marked ^vith yellow stripes. Claws very long, the 

 middle three of the anterior limb longest. 



One specimen was taken in which the median stripe of the mar- 

 ginal plates was decorated on each side with a semicircular line 

 followed by a short bar, thus agreeing with Holbrook's figure.^ 



The young specimens collected lacked the high, dome-like carapace 

 of the adults. The shells were almost round and about 1| inches 

 in diameter. 



Description. — Carapace slate-colored, averaging three-fourths of 

 an inch in height and abruptly keeled in the middle. Costal plates 

 smooth with distinct median white line sometimes bordered by 

 faint wavy lines of the same color. Marginal plates smooth, edges 

 serrate at joints, decorated with median white line followed on each 

 side by semicircular white line and white dot. Plastron clear light 

 yellow. Under surface of marginal plates with line of black dots 

 extending entirely around the shell. Middle three claws of anterior 

 limb not very long, as in adults. 



From the specimens examined it w^ould appear that the young and 

 immature forms are likely to show the markings of the carapace, 

 the decorated marginal plates and the black spots of the under 

 margin of the marginal plates more distinctly than the larger forms. 



The eggs collected were uniform in size, shape and color. Shape 

 ovate-elliptical, color pinkish-white, surface slightly granular, shells 

 cjuite soft. Of 103 eggs measured, the average length proved to be 



» North American Herpetology, Vol. I, p. 64, PI. 8, 1842. 



