19 



TRIOxNYX MVTICVS.—Lcsueur. 



Plate II. 



Characters. Shell sub-round, ecarinate, entire, and without spines or tubercles. 



Synonymes. Trionyx muticus, Lesueur, Mem. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat, torn. xv. p. 263, 

 tab. vii. 

 Trionyx muticus, Leconte, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., vol. iii. p. 95. 

 Trionyx muticus. Gray, Synop. Rep., p. 46. 

 Trionyx muticus, Harlan, Med. and Phys. Res., p. 159. 

 Gymnopus muticus, Dumeril et Bibron, Hist. Nat. des Rept., torn. ii. p. 483. 



Description. The shell is sub-round, entire, slightly arched, smooth or without 

 spines on its anterior border, and without tubercles on the superior surface either 

 of its anterior or posterior cartilaginous margin. 



The sternum is similar in form to that of the Trionyx ferox. 



The head is oval, less elevated at the forehead than in the last species, with 

 the snout equally prolonged, and the nares at its anterior extremity. The nostrils 

 are, however, very differently disposed, being large, closely approximated, and of 

 an eUiptical form, the larger portion below, and the long axes of the ellipses 

 converging from below upwards and forwards. The eyes are near; the pupil 

 black, and the iris of pale lemon colour, with a dusky bar. The jaws are similar 

 to those of the Trionyx ferox, but more pointed and narrow; the lips are more 

 developed, and the mouth larger in proportion. 



The anterior extremities are short, thick, flattened, and have several scales at 



