12 Catalogue of Reptiles inhabiting the 



They are very rich, flavoured like marrow, and will keep for weeks al- 

 though exposed to the air. 



M. M. Dumeril and Bibrou have pointed out the differences between 

 the adult of the present species and Chelonia midas, Schweigger, prin- 

 cipally consisting in colours, and in the form of the vertebral and 

 costal shields, to which may be added the comparative greater length 

 of the fronto-nasal shields in Chelonia virgata, in which the breadth is 

 one-third of the length, whereas in Chelonia midas it is one-half, and 

 these proportions appear to be constant in all ages of the two species. 

 The very young of both greatly resemble each other in colours and 

 shape. Six living young of the present species were all of the follow- 

 ing dimensions : 



Length of the head, Of inch. 



Ditto ditto neck, 0^- 



Ditto ditto shell, 2 



Ditto ditto tail, Of 



The following slight differences are the result of a comparison be- 

 tween the living young of Chelonia virgata and the representation of 

 Chelonia midas given by Schoepff. Tab. XVII. Fig. 2. 



Chelonia virgata. Chelonia midas. 



1 . Shell cordiform ; the length 1 . Shell ovate ; the length ex- 

 exceeds the breadth by one-eighth, ceeds the breadth by more than 



two-eighths. 



2. 2d vertebral shield much n . A , n , , , . 



. . , . 2. 1st and 2nd vertebral of 



broader than 1st, and is altogether , ,. 



. , „ , . equal dimensions, 



the largest of the series. 



3. 2d costal shield larger than 



, , 3. 2d and 3d costal equal. 



4. Sincipital plate broader than 4. Sincipital plate longer than 

 long. broad. 



5. Breadth of fronto-nasal 5. Breadth of fronto-nasals one 

 shields one third of their length. half of their length. 



6. Each fin with a single nail. 6. Each fin with 2 nails. 



Sub. Gen. Chelonice imbricatce, (Chelonees imbriquees,) Bum. and Bib r. 



Discal shields 13, imbricate; muzzle long, compressed; jaws with 

 the edge straight, not toothed, at the extremity slightly recurved : each 

 fin with 2 nails. 



