76 EMYS PICTA. 



adjoining plate; the second, third and fourth are hexagonal, and the fifth heptagonal, 

 with its borders of very unequal extent, and greatly dilated in the transverse 

 direction. Of the lateral plates, the anterior are very regularly triangular, their 

 bases being rounded and joined to five marginal plates; the second, third and 

 fourth are quadrilateral. The marginal plates are twenty-five in number, and 

 make one entire cutting margin; the nuchal, or intermediate, is nearly a paral- 

 lelogram, slightly notched or serrated anteriorly; the anterior marginal is penta- 

 gonal, while the others are quadrilateral; the anterior, and those covering the 

 thighs, being largest. 



The sternum is oblong, broad, and of nearly equal length with the shell; full 

 and rounded anteriorly, with the posterior border entire or but slightly emargi- 

 nate. The gular plates are triangular, the bases forward, and the apices directed 

 backward; the brachial are irregularly triangular, the bases being rounded and 

 turned outward, the apices inwards and truncate; the thoracic and abdominal are 

 quadrilateral, broad, and rounded externally; the sub-caudal are triangular, with 

 rounded bases. Of the supplemental plates, the axillary are very small and 

 triangular, with their apices forward; the inguinal are of the same form, but 

 larger, and have their apices turned in the opposite direction. 



The head is small, but full, and rounded in front; the snout being rather obtuse 

 than pointed. The upper jaw is entire at the sides, but is notched anteriorly. 

 The lower jaw is slightly hooked or turned upwards in front. The nostrils are 

 anterior and near together. The eyes are large and brilliant; the pupil black; 

 the iris golden, with a black band passmg through it horizontally. 



The anterior extremities are short, covered with large scales disposed trans- 

 versely in front, and smaller scales, intermixed with granulations, behind; the 

 fingers are five in number, slightly webbed, and each furnished with a short, 

 delicate, and slightly incurvated nail. The posterior extremities are rounded 

 above, but flattened at the tarsus, which sustains five fully palmated toes; the 



