50 CHELONIA. 



CHITRA, Gray. 



This genus is very closely allied to Tnonyx, from which it differs only in the form of the 

 head ; the hind part of the head is more elongate, whilst the snout is short, with very thick 

 lips and with a short, prominent nasal tube. 



It is founded on the following species, which does not appear to differ in its habits from 

 the true Trionyx. 



Chitra indica. (Plate VI. fig. C.) 



Trionyx indicus, Gray, Syn, Rept. p. 47. 



segyptiacus, var. indicus, Gray, lUustr. Ind. Zool. c. tab. 



Gymnopus Kneatus, Dum. ^ Bibr. Erpet. gen. ii. p. 491. 



indicus, Cantor, Mai. Rept. p. 10. 



Chitra indica. Gray, Shield Rept. p. 70. 



Shell of the adult. — The bony carapace is as long as broad, and much flattened. The 

 anterior dorsal bone large, broad, rugose, confluent with the first costals. The middle and 

 hinder sternal plates with very large rugose patches. 



There is only one rudimentary scale or, rather, fold of the skin on the front part of the 

 fore limb. 



The shell is greenish olive above, vermiculated and spotted with brown or rust-colour. 



This species grows to a very large size, and, like the Trionyx, it is eaten by the natives, 

 particularly the Chinese. It is found in the Ganges and in its tributaries, upwards into 

 Nepal; it is frequent in the estuaries of the Malayan Peninsula, and Mr. Cuming has 

 brought home some fine examples, said to have been procui'ed in the PhiUppine Islands. 

 Specimens are found weighing 240 pounds ; they are very powerful and of ferocious habits. 

 The shell of the largest individual observed by Dr. Cantor measured 37 inches* ; that 

 figured by us in Plate VI. is a mature specimen, of half its natural size. 



* Jerdon (Joiirn. As. Soc. Beng. xxii. 1854, p. 464) says that he procured a specimen in a net at Mahe, 

 on the Malabar coast, where it is considered rare. It is doubtful wliether Mr. Jerdon has properly 

 determined that specimen. 



