32 CHELONIA. 



Emys hamiltonii. The Yellow-sjwtted Emys. 



Emys guttata, Gray, Illustr. hid. Zool. tab. 



liamiltonii, Gi'ay, Syn. Rept. pp. 21, 72. 



picquotii, Less, in Belang. Voij. Ind. Orient., Zool. Rept. p. 294. 



Geoclemys hamiltoniij Gray, Shield Rept. p. 17. 



Form. — ^The shell of this elegant little species is oblong-ovate, with three longitudinal 

 ridges, each plate of the vertebral and costal series being elevated into a nodose prominence. 

 The upper shell is slightly emarginate in front, and has a small notch between the two 

 portions of the caudal plate ; its kinder margin is very distinctly serrated. The sternum has 

 an obtuse lateral keel between the axillary and inguinal incisions ; it is wider between the 

 front than between the hind incisions, its breadth between the former being one-half of 

 its length. 



Plates. — The areolae are proportionally large, rugose, situated on the posterior margin of 

 the plates. The nodose protuberances of the vertebral and costal ridges occupy the centre 

 of the areolfe. Nuchal plate sub triangular, as broad as long; the last vertebral a little 

 broader than the two caudals ; eleven marginal plates on each side ; praeanal as long as 

 abdominal. 



Head short, covered with soft skin ; tympanum coated over with coloured skin ; jaws not 

 denticulated, the upper without prominence anteriorly. Tail thin, shorter than the head, 

 covered with minute spinous tubercles to its extremity. 



Feet. — Forearm with thin, broad, rounded scales. Fingers and toes broadly webbed ; five 

 claws anteriorly and four posteriorly. 



Ground-colour brownish black, each vertebral and costal plate with a yellow spot on the 

 middle of its areola ; three or four other spots on the margin, ray-like disposed ; marginal 

 and sternal plates similarly spotted. Head, neck, and limbs with yellow spots and dots, those 

 on the head being the largest ; a pair of these spots in front of the eye are very constant. 

 Iris black, with yellow spots. 



This species is common in the lower Ganges and its vicinity. The specimens brought to 

 Europe are usually from 2 to 3 inches long ; it attains, however, to a length of 5| inches. 

 I have only seen it once, alive, in Europe (Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park) ; it appeared 

 to be much affected by the climate, and died after a short time. It feeds on animal sub- 

 stances — in captivity on raw meat. 



