Dr. J. E. Gray on new species of Freshwater Tortoises. 263 



6. Malacoptila nigrifusca. 



Malacoptila fusctty ex Bogota, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1855, p. 136. 



M. nigricanti-brunnea, plumarum scapis pallide fulvis ; loris et 

 plumis mystacalibus cum plaga triangulari snper-pectorali 

 albis : ventre medio crissoque fere unicoloribus, albicantioribus ; 

 rostri basi Icete aurantia, apice nigro ; pedibus nigricanti- 

 brunneis. 



Long, tota ^-b ; alae 3*5 ; caudae 2*5. 



Hab. In Nova Granada, Santa Fe de Bogota. Mus. Brit, et Joh. 

 Gould. 



Obs. Sp. Malacoptilce fusccB affinissima sed statura minore et 

 coloribus nigricantioribus : rostri basi laetius aurantia. 



This New Grenadian bird, which in my Synopsis of this family and 

 List of Bogota birds I united with the true fusca of Cayenne, cer- 

 tainly presents considerable claims for specific distinction. The 

 body is generally smaller, the bill in particular is shorter and not so 

 strong, and at the base is of a deep orange colour instead of pale 

 yellow, the black not extending so far towards the base of the upper 

 mandibles ; the markings on the head, throat and breast also, are 

 much blacker, and I have therefore named the bird nigrifusca. 

 There are specimens of it in the British Museum and in Mr. Gould*s 

 collection. 



The East Peruvian or High-Amazon examples on the other hand 

 (which are held distinct by some naturalists under Du Bus' title 

 inornata) resemble the Cayenne bird much more nearly. After 

 remarking that the white lore-spot is nearly obsolete, and the skins 

 are rather finer and larger, it is in truth difficult (at least with my 

 present examples) to see further differences, and I therefore, regard 

 M. inornata as a very doubtful species. v aiijiooi ^m^e 



Rio Napo specimens are still more like the true/w«ca* - '7 



On some New Species of Freshwater Tortoises from 

 North America, Ceylon and Australia. By Dr. J. E. 

 Gray, F.R.S., F.R.G.S. etc. 



Fam. I. EMYDiDiE. * -^V<V'^ 



The freshwater Tortoises which have been referred to the genus 

 Emys, as it is at present constituted, may be divided into two very 

 distinct genera ; and this is the more advisable as it is extremely 

 difficult to distinguish the American species of which it is composed, 

 and the separation of any of them by organic characters must facili- 

 tate the process. The genera may be thus named and defined :-^ 



1. Emys. ..;,,,. ,,.^.-' 

 The lower jaw rounded beneath, and covered with the hinder part 



of the horny beak ; the toes strong, covered with, broad band-like 

 scales. Uffw orti ^^\'i 



This genus includes E. ornata, E. scripta/SioM^l^too^ii ,Biid 

 many other species, both Asiatic and American. dhisdi 9fb n'l ' 



2. PSEUDEMYS. 



The lower jaw flattened beneath and covered with a soft skin. The 



