148 Zoological Society : — 



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Description of a New Species of Geoclemmys from 

 Ecuador. By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., etc. 



Mr. Cuming has lately sent to the Museum two shells of a species 

 of Freshwater Tortoise, and a younger specimen, in spirits, of the 

 same animal, obtained by Mr. Fraser at Esmeraldas, on the western 

 coast of Ecuador. 



Geoclemmys annulata. 



Shell oblong, subquadrangular, black, slightly and irregularly 

 varied with yellow ; the vertebral plates square, almost as long as 

 broad, with a compressed flat-topped anterior keel, highest on the 

 fourth vertebral plate, which is narrower behind ; margin sub- entire, 

 with a triangular yellow spot on the under side of each plate ; nuchal 

 plate distinct ; sternum flat, rounded on the sides, black, with a 

 broad yellow band, forming a ring round the margin. 



Hab. Esmeraldas, Ecuador. 



The adult shell has much the external appearance of a Land 

 Tortoise of the genus Testudo, but it has the divided caudal plate of 

 the Emydce. The nuclei of the vertebral plates are posterior and 

 submarginal ; those of the costal plates are placed in the upper hinder 

 angle ; the horny shields of these plates are concentrically grooved. 

 The sternum is flat, rather suddenly bent up and truncated in front, 

 and slightly curved and with a deep triangular notch behind : the 

 broad yellow ring on this part gives it a very distinct appearance. 



The young specimen, with the animal preserved in spirits, is 

 black like the adult, but the back is much lower and rather concave 

 in the middle, with a very strong, yellow, rounded keel. The hinder 

 margin is slightly, and the front lateral margin is strongly, turned 

 up at the edge. The head is rather small and black, the crown, the 

 temple, and the neck being varied with broad white streaks or spots. 

 The limbs are black, with a few broad white streaks and some white 

 spots. The front of the fore legs is covered with cross rows of 

 large scales ; the soles of the feet with larger scales ; the rest of the 

 legs is covered with small granular scales ; the hinder edge of the fore 

 feet with three or four acute shields ; the outer edge of the hind feet, 

 marking the rudimentary outer hind toe, is edged with larger shields. 

 Toes 5-4, short, thick, conical, only very slightly webbed at the 

 base, and covered above and on the sides with three series of rather 

 j large shields. Tail short, conical, with rings of small black scales. 



Description of a New Species of Emys lately living in 

 the Gardens of the Zoological Society. By Dr. J. 

 E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., etc. 



<1 



The British Museum has lately received from the Zoological So- 

 ciety a specimen of an Emys which has recently died in the Gardens. 

 It is believed to have been one of five specimens brought from Egypt 

 by C. W. Domville, Esq., in 1852 ; but this is not certain. It is 



