24 CHELONIA. 



nuchal plate elongate-triangular ; vertebrals broader than long, not imbricate, the fourth and 

 fifth with an obtuse and low ridge. The outer edge of the marginal plates is not reverted ; 

 caudals rather broader than long. Gulars broader than long, the suture between them 

 equalling in length that between the postgulars ; postgulars shorter than pectorals and prae- 

 anals, which are equal in length ; the abdominals are the longest of the sternal shields, two- 

 sevenths or one-fourth of the length of the sternum. Anals nearly as large as the postgulars ; 

 the suture between them is much longer than their posterior margins, which meet at a verij 

 obtuse angle. 



Head covered with undivided skin; jaws not denticulated. Tail as long as the head. 



Feet. — Fingers and toes completely webbed. Front side of the forearm with extremely 

 broad scutes, occupying nearly the whole width of the arm ; the outer side of the hind foot 

 is also covered with enlarged scales. 



Colour. — Shell yellowish brown, with numerous linear dark-brown specks ; sternum yellow, 

 with brown blotches. A pair of black, yellow-edged ocelli on the occiput ; a scarlet, black- 

 edged band runs along the middle of the neck ; two or three similar streaks along each side 

 of the neck. 



I have seen two specimens of this well-distinguished species ; both are much alike, and the 

 larger, with a shell 5^ inches long, appears to be fully adult. It is a native of Southern China. 



Emys thurgi. The Thurgi. 



Emys thiirgii, Gray, Syn. pp. 22 & 72, and Shield Rept. p. 21. Dum. ^ Bibr. Erpet. gen. ii. p. 318. 



Testudo thurgii, Gh-ay, Illustr. Ind. Zool. 



Emys flavo-nigra, Less. Bull. Sc. xxv. p. 12, and in Belanger, Voy. Ind. Orient., Rept. p. 22. 



Form. — Shell rather depressed, ovate ; an interrupted median ridge extends the whole length 

 of the shell ; no costal ridge. The upper shell is subtruncated anteriorly and provided with 

 a small notch posteriorly. Lateral margins not reverted, posterior scarcely serrated. The 

 sternum is elongate, the width between the axillary incisions being two-fifths of its length. 

 In the adult specimen the width between the axillary and inguinal incisions is equal, whilst 

 the former is the greater in the young specimen. The young specimen has the sternum 

 keeled on the sides, the old one perfectly rounded. The sternum is truncated anteriorly, 

 notched posteriorly, the angle of the notch being nearly a right one. 



Plates. — The areolae are proportionally large, smooth, and seem to disappear before the 

 animal is full-grown. Nuchal plate triangular, broadish posteriorly. The first vertebral 

 rather elongate, with the posterior margin concave, the concavity being directed backwards ; 

 the last broader than long. Caudal shields square. Gulars longer than broad, the suture 

 between them being shorter than that between the postgulars. Postgulars rather longer 



