32 CHELONURATEMMINCKII. 



here and there interspersed, both above and below; many of these warts have 

 horny points, though flexible at their base. 



The anterior extremities are large, stout, broad, covered with a granulated skin 

 and a few large scales placed transversely on the fore-arm, especially towards the 

 lower and posterior part; there are five fingers, palmated, and a narrow fold of 

 skin extends from the little finger along the fore-arm on the outer and posterior 

 margin; the nails are strong, stout, and slightly curved, and nearly two inches in 

 length. The posterior extremities are equally large in proportion, but more 

 flattened towards the tarsus, and covered with a granulated scaly skin, with some 

 larger warts about the nates, and a few large scales on the tarsus; the toes are 

 five in number, fully palmated, with the web continued, broad like a fringe, along 

 the posterior border of the extremity; there are four long horny nails. The tail 

 is long, round, covered with a warty skin, and three rows of circular or oval 

 plates, more or less elevated, in the centre; here and there they may be seen 

 raised into a round tubercle; these plates or scales are placed one on the 

 vertebral line, and one on each side. Whether the tail below is covered with 

 scales, as in the Chelonura serpentina, I cannot say, as the only species that I 

 have seen was diied, so that this arrangement was not perceptible. 



Colour. The head is dusky above; the upper jaw is dingy-yellow, mixed with 

 grey and white; the lower jaw is darker grey, and yellowish near the base. The 

 neck is dusky above and dingy yellow beneath. The shell is greyish or horn 

 coloured, a little darker near each prominence. The sternum is yellow, more or 

 less dingy. The superior surface of the extremities and tail is dusky, the inferior 

 dirty yellowish-white. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 8 inches; length of neck, 3^ inches; circumfer- 

 ence of neck, 1 foot 10 inches; length of shell, following the curve, 1 foot 10 

 inches; length of sternum, 1 foot 4 inches; length of tail beyond the anus, 1 foot 

 21 inches. 



