168 TESTUDINATA. 



especially in the more eastern parts, and has been taken in 

 the Adriatic and on 

 the Atlantic Ocean. 



the Adriatic and on the coasts of Languedoc. It inhabits 



Genus SPHARGIS. 



Only the following species known. Distinguished from 

 other Turtles by the leathery covering, which takes the 

 place of the horny case that characterizes the latter ; the 

 claws are without nails. Food and habits but little known, 

 probably similar to those of the preceding genus. 



Sphargis coriacea. 



Sphargis coriacea, Dum. et Bib. vol. ii. p. 560 ; Buon. Faun. Ital. 



(figured). 

 The Leathery Turtle. 



Desceiption. — The carapace is heart-shaped, the hinder ex- 

 tremity much pointed ; an elevated ridge follows the dorsal 

 line from end to end ; and on either side of this central 

 ridge are three parallel ones, equidistant from each other ; 

 between these ridges the surface is quite smooth ; the 

 sternum is also smooth ; the head is without plates ; the 

 jaws are very strong ; the lower jaw turns upwards at its 

 extremity, forming a hook, which is received into a cor- 

 responding channel in the upper jaw. In the young, the 

 lines on the carapace are formed by a succession of tuber- 

 cles in rows, and the entire surface, both of it and of the 

 plastron, is warty. The eyelids are divided almost ver- 

 tically ; the fore-feet or fins are as long again as the hinder, 

 the latter, however, being the wider ; there is no trace of 

 nails to the toes ; the tail is as long as the point at the 

 hinder extremity of the carapace. The general colour is 

 brown, with numerous pale yellow spots on the upper sur- 

 face ; the legs and tail are black. 



