South African Tortoises. 4:05 



South African Tortoises of the Geiiui Roinojjus, with Description 

 of a New Species. 



By J. E. DUERDBX, Ph. D., A.R.C. Sc. 



Among the twenty or so species of tortoises recorded from 

 South Africa there occur two very distinct groups. One group 

 includes the species embraced under the genus Ho/)iojms, and the 

 other Testiulo (jeometrica, Linn., and its allies. As regards the genus 

 HoDiojms five species are known, and the present paper atlds 

 another ; they are restricted in their distribution to South Africa, 

 with the exception of H. nogueyi, which occurs in Upper Senegal, 

 and differ from one another in characters which seem very con- 

 stant. Of the (/eot)ietrica-gvon\i, nine species have been described, 

 all found in South Africa. While some of these appear very 

 distinct, there are others which are unquestionably intermediate in 

 character when large numbers of individuals are available for 

 comparison ; their claim to specific recognition must be held 

 as doubtful. South Africa may be considered as the centre of 

 origin of these two strongly marked groups of tortoises, and one 

 may assume that each series has had its own ancestry. An 

 acquaintance with these facts strongly suggested that a thorough 

 investigation of the two series on the spot might yield important 

 results with regard to their geographical distribution, and perhaps 

 reveal phases in the origin of the different species or the inter- 

 grading of one species into another. 



To carry out such an investigation it is necessary that a large 

 number of individuals should be secured from as many localities 

 as possible, and with this in view " Museum Notes" were inserted 

 in the local papers drawing attention to the zoological interest of 

 the subject, and appealing for assistance to the residents in various 

 parts of the Colony. The response was verj- gratifying. Within 

 about four months over four hundred live specimens were received 

 from about fifty different sources, and the contributions still 

 continue. The Director of the South African Museum, Mr. W. L. 



