4 CHELONIA. 



Testudo elegans. The Starred Tortoise. 



Testudo elegans, Schoepff, p. 111. tab. 25 (young). 



? Testudo stellata, Schweig. Prodr. sp. 13. 



Testudo actinodes, Bell, Zool.Journ. iii. p. 419, iv. tab. suppl. 23 (24), and Testud. pi. (gibbous 



variety) . 



steUata, Gray's Synops. Rept. p. 12. tab. 3 (middle age). 



geometrica, Button, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. \\. 1837, p. 689. pi. 38 (adult male). 



megalopus, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxii. 1853, p. 640, is, according to an oral com- 



raimication by Mr. Blyth, identical with T. elegans. 



Form. — The shell of the adult is regularly oblong-ovate, contracted towards both ends 

 and elevated in the middle, with the lateral margins very slightly curved. It is rather 

 higher than broad, its greatest depth being much more than the width of the sternum 

 between the front incisions. The upper shell has a deep, broad, obtusangular notch 

 anteriorly, and the sternum a similar one, but of less depth, posteriorly. The sternum is a 

 little broader between the hinder incisions than between those in front. Very young speci- 

 mens have a nearly globular shell, the front and hind portions not being yet produced. In 

 specimens of a more advanced age, of from 2 to 3 inches in length, the shell still retains its 

 rounded outline, but becomes more depressed, so that it appears broader than high ; these 

 shells have very large areolae occupying the centre of the plates and suiTounded by two or 

 three homy rings. 



In many adult specimens the single plates are more or less elevated into prominent humps, 

 the height of which may be from half an inch to an inch. This pecuhar form is so frequently 

 found, that we cannot consider it as a monstrosity, but rather as an indication of very great 

 age. If the shell is viewed from the inner side, deep impressions may be seen corresponding 

 to the external prominences. 



Plates. — The areolae of the vertebral plates are in the centre, of the costal plates between 

 the centre and the upper margin, and of the marginal plates in the lower posterior corner. 

 No nuchal plate. Areolar portion of the three hinder marginals projecting. Gular plates 

 elongate, triangular, much longer than broad, the sum of their posterior angles being less 

 than a right angle. Postgulars longer than broad. The portion of the pectoral plates 

 which is intermediate between postgulars and abdominals is very narrow. Abdominal as 

 broad as long. Anal plates nearly regularly rhomboidal. 



In young specimens aU the plates are shortened in their longitudinal diameter. 



Head. — The head is covered with small polygonal horny shields, those on the upper sui'face 

 of the snout and on the crown being symmetrically arranged; a single shield somewhat 

 larger than the others may be considered as an occipital ; there is an oblong shield above 

 the tympanum. Jaws indistinctly denticulated, the front part of the upper jaw being armed 

 with a pair of stronger prominences, and sometimes with a third single one in the middle. 



Feet. — The fi-ont part of the fore legs and the hinder part of the lower hind leg are covered 

 with rather large, prominent, flat, triangular scales. There is a group of large conical 

 tubercles on the hmder side of the thigh. 



