108 [June, 



these Chelonians to move slightly this portion of their bony apparatus." The 

 celebrated authors above mentioned describe but two species of Staurotypus, 

 viz., triporcatus and odoratus. Of the former we have a specimen from the 

 river Medelin, in Mexico, the carapax of which, measures 11 inches (Fr.) in length 

 and 7 in breadth, being much larger than the specimen in the Jardin des Plantes. 

 The sternum is cruciform and has but 7 pUites, there being eleven in odoratus. 

 but when we consider that these animals correspond in the shape of the head, 

 the general configuration of the shell, and the form of the sternum, these differ- 

 ences may be considered specific, and not generic. The following are the cha- 

 racters of Siaurotypus, Cinosternon and Sternothaerus, as given by Dumeril and 

 Bibron, (Tome ll/pp. 354, 361 and 39G.) 



Sub-Fam. CRYPTODERID.E. 



Gen. Staurotypus, Wagler. 



Head subquadrangular, pyramidal, covered in front by a single, very thin 

 plate; jaws more or less hooked ; barbels under the chin ; 23 marginal scutes ; 

 sternum ihick. cruciform, moveable ia front, provided with eight or eleven scuta ; 

 the axillary and inguinal plates contiguous, placed upon the sterno-costal su- 

 tures ; anterior feet with five nails, posterior with four only. Two species. 



Cinosternon, Wagler. 



Head subquadrangular, pyramidal ; a single rhomboidal plate upon the cra- 

 nium ; jaws slightly hoolied ; barbels under the chin ; scales of the shell slightly 

 imbricated ; 23 marginal scutes ; sternum oval, moveable in front and posteriorly 

 upon a fixed piece, provided with eleven scales, with short, narrow, subhorizon- 

 tal wings ; a very large axillary, an inguinal still larger ; tail long, (in the males,) 

 unguiculated. (Staurotypus with a larger sternum, and the posterior part of 

 the sternum movable.) Three species. 



Sub-Fam. PLEURODERID.E. 



Gen. SternothvErus, Bell. 



Head depressed, provided with plates ; jaws not denticulated ; no nuchal plate ; 

 sternum large, with very narrow lateral prolongations; anterior portion of the 

 plastron rounded, moveable; five nails to each extremity. (Three species, all 

 from Madagascar. We have three shells of this genus from W. Africa.) 



Oa leave granted, Dr. Le Conte offered the following, which was 

 unanimously adopted : 



Resolved, That a special vote of thanks be presented by the Academy 

 to Dr. E. K. Kane, U. S. Navy, for his numerous and valuable dona- 

 tions to the Museum of the Academy. 



June 24 ^/i. 

 Vice President Bridges in the Chair. 



The Committee on Messrs. Berkeley and Curtis' paper, read 10th inst. 

 reported in favor of publication in the Journal. 



The Committees on Mr. Sager's pnpor, read May 13th; on Mr. Lea's 

 paper, read June od ; on Messrs. Meek & Hayden's paper, read 10th 

 inst.; on Prof. Harper's paper, read 17th inst.; and on Mr. Taylor's 

 and Dr. Hallo well's papers, read same date, severally reported in favor 

 of publication in the Proceedings. 



