94 EMYS INSCULPTA. 



beautiful sculptured appearance to the shell. The marginal plates are twenty-five; 

 the nuchal, or intermediate, is small and narrew, but elevated like a carina or rido-e 

 above the adjoining plates; the anterior marginal is pentagonal, with its outer and 

 anterior angle prolonged; all the others are quadrilateral; those along the flanks 

 are revolute and form a groove; the ninth and tenth are convex, while the eleventh 

 and twelfth are again revolute and form a deep gutter; the posterior and external 

 angles of the ninth, tenth and eleventh are each prolonged, and give a sub-serrate 

 appearance to the posterior margin of the carapace. 



The sternum is oblong, full and entire in front, but deeply emarginate behind; 

 the gular plates are triangular, w^ith their apices directed backwards, and projecting 

 beyond the brachial at their external border; the brachial are also triangular, w ith 

 truncate apices; the thoracic are oblong, quadrilateral; the abdominal are pen- 

 tagonal, large and broad. The femoral plates arc quadrilateral, very large, and. 

 project beyond the sub-caudal at their posterior and external angles; the sub- 

 caudal are lozenge-shaped. The surfaces of all these, as well as the inferior 

 surface of the marginal plates, are marked with deep, radiating and concentric 

 stricB. Of the supplemental plates, the axillary is triangular, with its basis turned 

 backwards; the inguinal is quadrilateral and very small. 



The head is large, but elongated; the upper jaw is so emarginate in front as to 

 form two teeth, and the lower is furnished w ith a strong hook; the cutting edees 

 of both are strong and sharp. The nostrils are anterior, and near together. The 

 eyes are large, with a black pupil, and a dark brown iris, surrounded by a yellow 

 circle. 



The anterior extremities are covered with scales, both before and behind, those 

 in front being the largest; there are five fingers, palmate, each furnished with a 

 short, strong, and slightly curved nail. The posterior extremities are rounded at 

 the thigh, but flattened at the leg and tarsus; there are five toes, fully palmate, but 

 four only are furnished Avith nails. The tail is long, thick at the root, but soon 

 becomes slender, and is covered with scales. 



