HEEiPETOLOGY OF JAPAN. 523 



carapace devoid of color, though without a well-defined pale margin; 

 underside with a number of symmetrical blackish spots, with slightly 

 paler centers, as follows: (1) On plastron, a small longitudinal spot 

 anteriorly on the median line between the epiplastra; a large trian- 

 gular median spot on the hyo-hypoplastral interspace, broader than 

 high, the apex turned forward; a heart-shaped median spot, deeply 

 notched in front, on the anterior processes of the xiphiplastra; a pair 

 of oval spots, one on each side in front of the bend of the hyoplastra; 

 a pair of roundish spots, one on each side in the outer angle between 

 the hyoplastra and the h3rpoplastra ; (2) on the soft skin, a pair of 

 oblique elliptic spots, one on each side beliind the bend of the hypo- 

 plastra; a pair of circular spots at the base of the tail; (3) on the 

 underside of the flap of the carapace: a longitudinal, ill-defined broad 

 band interrupted on the median line; (4) on the extremities: palms 

 and soles dark gray. 



Dimensions. 



mm. 



Length of carapace 36 



Greatest width of carapace 34 



Length of plastron 29 



Greatest depth of shell 12 



The rate of growth is well illustrated by a table presented by Pro- 

 fessor Mitsukuri," as follows: 



Habitat. — This species, as here understood, has only been found in 

 Japan proper, where it seems to occur originall}^ in the southern rivers 

 only. It has probably been introduced in many places, and a detailed 

 account of the localities in which it is undoubtedly original would be 

 a very interesting contribution to our knowledge of these animals. 



Professor Mitsukuri has given a very interesting and instructive 

 description of Mr. Hattori's turtle farm at Fukagawa, a suburb of 

 Tokyo, which it was my good fortune to inspect in 1S96 under his 

 guidance. 



a Bull. Fish. Bur., Washington, XXIV, 1905, p. 265. 



