TRIONYX FEROX. 17 



in which he is partly excusable, for he thought it might be a neAv species of 

 Turtle; thus he says "it is possible that this animal (Trionyx spiniferus) may be 

 the Trionyx ferox, but from its geographical distribution (Wabash river), he 

 doubts it, as he has observed in the United States that even at short distances 

 the same species no longer exist." This is perfectly true as regards the Atlantic 

 states, but much less so of the western, and if the geographical distribution be 

 referred to it, it will readily be seen how widely extended in the west may be a 

 species entirely aquatic. 



Dumeril and Bibron have lately adopted the specific name spiniferus for this 

 animal, which I cannot retain, as that of ferox has the right of priority, having 

 been in general use for nearly fifty years. 



They furthermore consider the Trionyx carinatus of Geoffroy, and the Trionyx 

 Brogniartii of Schweigger, as merely the young of our animal, and the opinion of 

 such excellent herpetologists is worthy of all credit, especially as they affirm that 

 there is stiU preserved in the Museum of the Garden of Plants at Paris the 

 identical specmiens from which those descriptions were taken. 



It has always appeared to me that the "great Soft-shelled Turtle" of Bartram, 

 and the Trionyx ferox were one and the same animal, for no other species than 

 this has ever been received from Florida, with which country we have now 

 almost daily communication. Leconte lived for a time on the St. John's river, 

 the very place where Bartram found his animal, yet he saw only the Trionyx 

 ferox; and several officers of the army, who have been stationed in that country 

 for years, and planters living on the banks of the river, have equally failed in 

 finding the Soft-shelled Turtle with the long warts about the neck. Bartram, 

 though a respectable botanist, was not an accurate zoologist, as his writings 

 clearly enough show — the spines given to the neck are those that properly belong 

 to the carapace, and the five nails represented as belonging to the extremities, 

 are doubtless the result of careless observation — for there are five fingers and as 

 Vol. II.— 3 



