EMYS PICTA. 77 



four internal alone are provided with nails. The tail is moderately long, narrow, 

 and covered with ranges of scales. 



Colour. The Emys picta may be easily distinguished from all others of the 

 genus, by the beautiful colour and markings of the shell. In general it is of a 

 very dark brown, yet in some varieties it is much lighter, approaching to a dark 

 olive; along the spine is a yellow line; the vertebral and lateral plates are 

 bordered with the same colour. In old animals these are fawn colour; but in the 

 young they are so bright, especially when seen under water, as to resemble 

 golden bands. These bands vary in breadth; in some specimens they are narrow, 

 almost linear; while in others they are more than two lines in breadth. The 

 marginal plates are all marked both above and below with a bright red spot in 

 the centre, which is surrounded by concentric lines of the same colour; at times 

 the upper surface of the marginal plates appears clouded with red, resembling the 

 mineral called blood-stone (Haematite). 



The sternum is entirely yellow, except at the wings, where it is somewhat 

 dusky. 



The head above is dark, almost black, with several small yellow lines running 

 from the snout to the orbit of the eye. The upper as well as the lower jaw is of 

 dark fawn colour, marked with yellow lines; one of the lines passes through both 

 jaws in its descent, and continues along the neck. Back of each eye is an oblong 

 yellow spot; and another, of the same colour, but still larger, is situated behind the 

 occiput; from each of these spots is continued a longitudinal line along the neck. 

 The neck itself above is black, marked with longitudinal lines of orange and red; 

 the throat is of the same colour, and marked with similar lines, though they are 

 smaller and more numerous; one begins at the chin, and, after a short distance, 

 subdivides; between this subdivision is a central line; on either side of these 

 principal horizontal lines are others intermediate and less distinct. 



The anterior extremities are black in front, with one or two red hues, the one 



