EMYS MUHLENBERGII. 47 



anterior extremities are covered with scales, larger in front and smaller behind; 

 the fingers are five in number, and but slightly palmated, each fijrnished with a 

 nail. The posterior extremities are flattened, and covered with small scales; the 

 toes are five in number and imperfectly palmated; the four internal ones only are 

 provided with nails. The tail is large and nearly conical, thick at the base and 

 pointed at the extremity; its superior surface is covered with scales. 



Colour. The shell is very dark brown, almost black; all the plates are 

 relieved by blotches of obscure yellow, mingled with pale brown; in some 

 individuals the plates are marked by sub-radiating lines, of the same colour as 

 the blotches. The sternum is almost black at the margin, and bright yellow, 

 approaching to orange, in the middle, sometimes varied with red. Black, how- 

 ever, often predominates both on the shell and sternum. 



The head is black; a short indistinct yellow line runs from the snout to the 

 orbit of the eye, which is partially surrounded by a circle of the same colour; 

 the upper jaw is yellow, mingled with brown, and marked with blotches of a 

 darker shade of brown and occasional spots of orange; the lower jaw is 

 brownish-yellow, with a few spots of orange. The neck is dark brown above, 

 with two very remarkable spots on each side behind the occiput, varying in 

 different individuals from bright yellow to deep orange, or almost red; these spots 

 vary also in size and shape, they are sometimes small with regular margins, at 

 other times they resemble blotches. The inferior surface of the neck is yellow- 

 ish-brown, studded with small black spots. 



The anterior extremities are brownish-yellow; man}' of the scales are tinged 

 with orange; a dark line runs along the outer margin of the fore-arm. The 

 posterior extremities are dark brown on the upper surface, with occasional spots 

 of orange about the foot; the inferior surface is brownish-yellow, with one or 

 two lines of lighter yellow. The tail is dusky yellow above, and yellow, tinged 

 with orange, below. 



