12 CHELONIA. 



The Indian Box Tortoises have been separated generically by Dr. Gray from those of 

 America, with which they have great resemblance in external appearance and in habits. 

 They belong to the intermediate forms between Testudo and Emys ; although they are less 

 aquatic in their habits than the latter, yet they are exclusively carnivorous. They are very 

 timid, withdrawing the head and limbs when handled, and partly closing the aperture with 

 the moveable lobes of the sternum, a faculty which they possess in a less degree than the 

 American species. They never attempt to bite, and soon become accustomed to confine- 

 ment, withdrawing their head only when frightened. 



Anals without notch behind. Toes distinctly webbed . . , . C. aniboinensis, p. 12. 



Anals without notch behind. Toes scarcely webbed C.flavomarginata, Tp. 13. 



Anals separated by a notch behind C. trifasciata, p. 14. 



CuoRA AMBOiNENSis. The Bdning or Cuoro. (Plate IV. figs. A & B.) 



Testudo amboinensis, Baud. Rept. ii. p. 309. 



Cistudo amboinensis, Gray, III. Ind. Zool. tab. Dum. ^- Bibr, Erpet.gen. ii. p. 215. pi. 15. fig. 2. 



Terrapene bicolor, Bell, Zool. Journ. ii. p. 484. tab. 16. 



Cuora amboinensis, Gray, Shield Bept. p. 41. 



For7n and Plates. — The general form and the shape of the single plates are subject to 

 numerous variations, some dependent on age, others apparently accidental. The shell is, 

 generally, not depressed ; we have seen only one male, from the Island of Gilolo, in which 

 it might be so called. The most convex and elevated part of the shell is more frequently in 

 its posterior half than in the middle. Young specimens always show three longitudinal 

 ridges, the lateral of which are nearer to the median ridge than to the outer margin of the 

 shell ; these ridges become indistinct with age or disappear entirely. Margin of the shell 

 not serrated, slightly reverted in young specimens. Nuchal plate oblong; caudals longer 

 than broad, with a very slight notch behind. Sternum concave in males, flat in females, 

 rounded anteriorly and posteriorly ; the length of its anterior lobe is contained once and a 

 third or once and a half in that of the posterior ; the suture between both lobes corresponds 

 to the suture between the fifth and six marginals. Gulars rounded anteriorly, much longer 

 than broad, the suture between them being thrice as long as that between the postgulars. 

 Pectorals shorter than abdominals. Anals large, as large as postgulars, rounded, and without 

 notch behind ; the suture between them equals in length that between the abdominals. 



Head covered with undivided skin ; jaws scarcely denticulated, upper jaw slightly bent 

 downwards anteriorly. Tail shorter than the head. Front part of the fore leg and upper 

 side of the toes with large imbricate scales ; fingers and toes webbed ; claws stout, five 

 anteriorly and four* posteriorly ; a series of four or six large rounded scales across the wrist. 



Colour. — Upper shell brown ; each plate on the lower side with a black or brown blotch in 

 the areolar corner ; these spots occupy the greater portion of the plates in young individuals. 



