32 



EMYS SERRATA, 



larger and broader below; the fourth is regularly quadrilateral. Of the twenty-five 

 marginal plates, the intermediate, or nuchal, is very narrow, almost subcylindrical 

 acuminate, and projecting; the first and second are pentagonal, with the two 

 shortest sides directed backwards; they are notched in front, the first deeply, the 

 second less so, and both project beyond the other marginal plates, the external 

 point extends farthest. All the remaining plates are quadrilateral; and the five 

 posterior are so deeply notched, as to give that sharply serrated appearance to 

 the posterior margin of the shell that characterizes this species of Emys. 



The sternum is oblong, full in front, but emarginate behind, and covered with 

 twelve plates. The gular plates are triangular, their bases forwards, and their 

 apices backwards; on the outer angle, each has a knob or process looking forwards 

 and upwards; between these points the plates are concave, which leaves space for 

 the neck; the brachial plates are triangular, with their apices truncated and 

 directed inwards; the thoracic are irregularly quadrilateral; the abdominal are 

 pentagonal, and project considerably beyond the subcaudal. 



The head is of moderate size; the snout short, but rather pointed; the nostrils 

 anterior and near together; the upper jaw almost entire, very slightly emarginate 

 in front; the lower is furnished with a hook not well developed; the eyes are large, 

 the pupil black, the iris golden, with a broad black stripe extending horizontally 

 through it; the anterior extremities are of moderate extent, covered with transverse 

 rows of large scales in front, and a few large scales and granulations behind. 

 The fingers are five in number, each furnished with a short, strong, slightly curved 

 nail. The posterior extremities are flattened and scaly above, and scaly and 

 granulated below. The tarsus is broad, and sustains five toes fully palmated, four 

 only having nails. The tail is short, thick at the root, and small, narrow, and 

 conical at the top. 



Colour. The head is black, marked with yellow lines, the largest beginning at 

 the tip of the snout and running to the occiput. The jaws are horn colour, tra- 

 versed by a yellow line which begins at the nostrils and descends downwards and 



