38 CISTUDABLANDINGII. 



Dr. Blanding says the animal from which this description was taken was a 

 female, and had, when examined, sixty eggs in different stages of developement. 

 He furthermore observes that he was struck at first view with the difference of form 

 of this animal and the common Cistuda, and on further examination he found it 

 could never bring the sternum in contact with the shell so as to conceal the head, 

 neck, extremities and tail, as can the Cistuda Carolina. 



There can then be no doubt of its being a new species of Cistuda, for 



1. The head resembles that of an Emys, and has the upper jaw deeply emarginate 

 in front; while in the hundreds of the common box tortoise that I have examined, 

 all had a broad flattened hook in front, although not recurved. 



2. The form of the carapace is that of an Emys, the anterior margin, or that 

 corresponding to the anterior section of the sternum, but slightly elevated; while 

 in the Cistuda Carolina the same margin rises at an angle of 45° or nearly. 



3. It differs in the form of its sternum, deeply emarginate behind, which I have 

 never seen in the Cistuda Carolina. 



4. In the proportionate size of the two sections of the sternum, thus the 

 posterior is to the anterior as 43.39, while in the Cistuda Carolina it is as 31.22. 



5. In its inability to bring the sternum completely in contact with the shell. 



N. B. This animal was received after the description of the Cistuda Carolina 

 was printed. 



