Sternothcerus. 307 



Description, 

 Shell ovate, rounded before and behind, moderately convex, 

 carinated. The plates of the back much thicker than in S. 

 trifasciatusy with numerous striae radiating from the area, and 

 crossed at the margins by concentric rugae. The general colour 

 of the scuta of a very deep brown or rich blackish colour, the 

 costal plates fulvous in the centre. The first vertebral plates 

 quadrilateral, broad before, narrowing behind, with an elongated 

 tubercle towards the posteriour part, forming as it were the com- 

 mencement of the carina. The second and third hexagonal ; the 

 fourth subpentagonal ; the whole imbricated and carinated ; the 

 carina becoming more elevated to the termination of the fourth 

 plate. The fifth subhexagonal, very narrow before, very broad 

 behind, slightly carinated anteriourly. Lateral plates of the disk 

 with the area smooth, the margins concentrically rugose, crossed 

 with numerous radiating striae. Marginal plates only 24 in num- 

 ber. A small portion only of the lateral ones is seen on the upper 

 surface of the shell. Sternum rounded anteriourly, bifid behind, 

 having 13 plates, of which seven belong to the anteriour lobe. 

 The first or single one is acutely lanceolate, the point directed 

 backwards ; the next on each side very small, and subequilaterally 

 triangular. The anteriour lobe or valve is united to the middle 

 portion by a ligamento-cartilaginous hinge, and to the upper shell 

 by a small membranous ligament. It is furnished internally with 

 a long spinous process on each side, close to the angles, for the 

 attachment of the muscles that serve to close the shell. The 

 middle and posteriour portions which are fixed to the upper shell, 

 are connected together by bony union. The posteriour portion is 

 narrower, uni-dentated on each side, and bifid at the extremity. 

 The plates are yellowish, passing at the edges into deep brown. 

 They are marked with concentric and radiated stri* like those 

 of the back. 



Species 3. 

 ODORATus. S, testa ovaliy convexA^ subcarinata ; scutis margi- 

 nalibus 24 y sterni 11. 

 Testudo odorata. Latr, Hist. Rept, I. p. 122. Baud. 11, 

 p. 189, pi. 24. f. 3. 



u2 



