CUOEA FLAVOMARGINATA. 13 



Sides of the head ivifh yellow hands: the upper runs from the nose through the upper 

 margin of the orbit along the neck ; the second passes the lower half of the orbit and the 

 tympanum, and occupies the whole lower half of the neck. Jaws yellow, each with a black 

 longitudinal stripe. 



This species attains to a length of 8 inches; it is found in nearly all the tropical parts of 

 India, at least near the coasts ; we are not aware how far inland it may be found. Specimens 

 have been received from Pinang, Singapore, the Tenasserim Provinces, Gamboja, Sumatra, 

 Java, Amboyna, Gilolo, and the Philippine Islands. The Malays of the Peninsula call 

 it Bdning. It is more terrestrial in its habits than aquatic. 



Figures A, A' of Plate IV. represent an adult female, of half the natural size ; figures B, B', 

 a young individual, of the natural size. 



CuoRA FLAVOMARGiNATA. The Black-helUed Box Tortoise. (Plate V. fig. A.) 



Cystoclemys flavomarginata, Gray, MS. 



Form and Plates. — Shell very convex, with the margin slightly reverted and not serrated, 

 and with three longitudinal ridges which become more or less indistinct with age. Nuchal 

 plate narrower in front than behind; caudals longer than broad, without notch behind. 

 Sternum rounded in front and behind, the length of its anterior lobe being two-thirds of that 

 of the posterior ; the suture between both lobes corresponds to the suture between the fifth 

 and sixth marginals. Gulars about twice as long as broad, the suture between them being 

 more than twice as long as that between the postgulars. Pectorals rather shorter than 

 abdominals. The anals are large, but rather smaller than the j)Ostgulars ; they are grown 

 together, and the suture between them has nearly entirely disappeared. 



The head is large ; jaws not denticulated, the upper bent downwards anteriorly. Tail 

 nearly as long as the head ; its posterior half is covered by four rows of square shields 

 arranged in rings. Th.efore leg is covered with very large imbricate scales anteriorly and 

 posteriorly. Neither the fingers nor the toes are webbed ; claws short. 



Colour. — Upper shell blackish brown, the areolar portion of each plate light horny- 

 coloured ; lower part of the marginal plates yellowish. Sternum entirely Mack, with a 

 narrow yellow border. Crown of the head greenish olive ; a bright yellow band, edged with 

 blackish, narrow in front and broader behind, runs from the upper posterior angle of the 

 orbit to the side of the occiput ; snout ivithout any band ; cheeks yellowish, with a blackish 

 border above ; neck uniform yellowish olive ; feet dirty greenish olive ; tail yellowish, with a 

 blackish streak on each side. 



The shell of this species attains to a length of 1\ inches. We have two adult specimens : 

 one is said to be from China; the other was brought by Mr. Swinhoe from Tamsuy. 



