18 CHELONIA. 



Cantor describes a tortoise from Pinang 19 inches long, and called Katong by the Malays, 

 as E. platynota ; but this was certainly an incorrect determination, as is evident from his 

 description. 



GEOEMYDA, Gray. 



Thorax and sternum solid, entirely bony in full-grown specimens ; sternum 

 fixed, without transverse joint ; the upper shell depressed, sternum concave 

 in males, flat in females ; pectoral plates subquadrangular, forming- a suture 

 together. Feet with the toes very distinct and with the hind toes moderately 

 webbed. Claws five anteriorly and four posteriorly. 



The two species of this genus are confined to the East Indies, and appear to be inter- 

 mediate forms between Testudo and Emys. Nothing positive is known of their habits ; they 

 are readily distinguished from one another. 



Anterior margin serrated G. spinosa, p. 18. 



Anterior margin not serrated G. grandis, p. 19. 



Mr. Blyth mentions a species of Geoemyda, G. tricarinata (Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxiv. 

 1855, p. 714), and describes it in the following words, without mentioning whether the 

 marsdn of the shell is entire or serrated : — 



'■■n'- 



" Shell 5^ by 3^ inches ; subovate, broader posteriorly : of a dark reddish-brown colour above, with three 

 yellow longitudinal ridges which are flat and obtuse ; below pale dull yellow. Claws long, stout, and con- 

 siderably hooked. Soles expanded — indication of terrene habits. Dorsal shields hexagonoid ; the third and 

 fourth broader than long ; the fifth approximating a triangular form, with posterior base : nuclei of costal 

 shields placed high, and traversed by the low lateral ridge." 



Geoemyda spinosa. Tlie Spinous Tortoise. 



Emys spinosa, Gray, Illustr. Ind. Zool. Bell, Testud. tab. (young) . 



Geoemyda spinosa, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1834-, p. 100. Cantor, Catal. Mai. Rept. p. 1. 



Form and Plates. — The shell of an adult specimen, 8 inches long, is nearly twice as broad 

 as high, with a semicircular posterior margin ; the angles of the front and hind marginal 

 plates are strongly projecting, forming together a serrated edge; a longitudinal ridge along 

 the vertebral plates is flat, but very distinct, intersected by slight swellings on the posterior 

 margin of each plate. The younger the specimen the less elongate are the plates. The 

 nuchal appears constantly to have a triangular shape, with a pointed angle anteriorly ; the 

 first vertebral urn-shaped, but somewhat broader than long, the third nearly twice as broad 

 as long, the last much broader than the caudal. Each costal plate is provided with a very 

 small tubercle on the middle of the hind margin of its areola. Gular plates as long as 

 broad ; postgulars and pectorals of equal length ; abdominals broader than long. 



