Terrapene hicolor. 485 



BicoLOR.-T. testii glabra tricarinata^ fused; sterni flavescentis 

 squamis fusco unimaculatis* 

 Habitat in America septentrionali. 

 Mus. Nost. 

 Icon. Tab. xvi. 



Description. 

 This species bears considerable resemblance to T. maculata^ 

 but it is distinctly tricarinated, grows to a much larger size, and 

 totally differs from that species in colour. The scales of the 

 back are smooth, with the area of e&ch raised. The upper part 

 of the head and neck is of a dull brown colour, as are also the 

 feet, tail, and the whole of the upper shell. The under part of 

 the head, with the plates of the sternum are of a pale yellowish 

 colour, each of the latter having a broad dark coloured spot at 

 the area. The head is even smaller than in the other species 

 of the genus, although the animal is almost twice as large; it is 

 marked with a yellow line on each side passing from the nostrils 

 over the eyes to the beginning of the neck. The eyes are black 

 and very small. 



Inches, 



Length of the upper shell 8..0 



Breadth of ditto 5. .5 



Length of the sternum 6 . . 5 



Breadth of ditto 4..0 



Height of the animal when at rest ... 3 . . 5 



In its habits this Tortoise is excessively timid, remaining al- 

 most constantly within its shell, and if now and then it is sur- 

 prized when walking, it instantly retreats within its box in which 

 it afterwards remains closely concealed. In this respect it differs 

 remarkably from those species which bear the nearest structural 

 relation to it. Since the living specimen now in my possession 

 came to my hands, my friend Mr. James de C. Sowerby has had 

 the kindness io present me with a shell of the same species which 

 he had living some years since ; and these are the only two speci- 

 mens I have seen or heard of. In this individual the sternum is 

 very concave in the middle of the posteriour valve ; a structure 



