ON TESTUDO EPHIPPIUM. 127 



specimen , might belong to a still uudescribed species of 

 Testudo. I therefore had the lower part of our specimen 

 photographed , and sent a photograph to Prof. Giglioli , 

 asking him to be so kind as to compare my photograph 

 with his specimen and to give me information as to the 

 pectoral shields. Prof. Giglioli very graciously answered 

 my letter expressing his regret that he was unable to give 

 me the information I had asked for, as the smaller speci- 

 men was sent in communication to the Hon. Walter Roth- 

 schild. Accordingly, I addressed myself to the well-known 

 proprietor of Tring Museum , explaining my case to him , 

 and asking for information about the smaller Duncan- 

 specimen. The Hon. Walter Rothschild, whose interesting 

 contributions to zoology are valued by all zoologists, not 

 only gave me the particulars I had asked for, but with 

 extreme kindness and great liberality gave me all infor- 

 mation he could furnish to help me to decide this diffi- 

 cult question. He expressed as his opinion that the tor- 

 toises of Duncan-island all belong to one and the same 

 species viz. Testudo ephippium Gthr., the specimens varying 

 much at different ages. His opinion is based on the com- 

 parison of 31 living and dead specimens of different sizes, 

 obtained from that island and now in his collection , and 

 of 5 other specimens including the type, which is in the 

 Edinburg Museum. To enable me to judge myself, he very 

 graciously sent me for comparison 2 specimens of P. 

 ephippium: one skeleton measuring 62 cm. over the curve, 

 and a very large unmounted specimen measuring 83 cm. 

 Moreover he sent me : 



1". an outline sketch of the front part of the plastron 

 of Prof. Giglioli's specimen, which shows the pectorals 

 meeting one another in the middle of the plastron. 



2**. an outline sketch of the front part of the plastron 

 of a large male, weighing 180 kilogram, and showing 

 the right pectoral shield normally developed, while the left 

 has its middle part reaching its fellow , but atrophied to 

 half its proper size. 



Notes from the Leyden JMiiseuiii , Vol. 'X.X., 



