no 



three or four. They are about an inch and a quarter long and three- 

 quarters in the shorter diameter. The eggs are laid about the 20th of 

 June, in a perpendicular hole dug by the use of the hind legs. After the 

 eggs are deposited the dirt is pushed back over the opening so as to con- 

 ceal it entirely. 



Genus EMYDOIDEA, Gray. 



Emys, Duraeril, 1806, 119, 76 ; Agassiz, 1857, 4-, h 441 ; Boulenger, 

 1889, 84, 114; Emydoidea, Gray, 1870, £5, Sup. 19; Baur, 1890, 22, 

 xxiii, 1099. 



Shell moderately elevated. Bridge narrow, the plastron not sutured 

 to the carapace, but united to it by ligament ; therefore, more or less 

 movable on it. Plastron divided by a transverse hinge at front end of 

 bridge into two lobes, which are movable on each other. Axillary and 

 inguinal processes of the plastron short, the latter just reaching the fifth 

 costal plate. Entroplastron reaching but hardly intersected by the 

 suture between the humeralsand the pectorals. Alveolar surface narrow, 

 without a median ridge. Choan:© between the eyes. Skull with a bony 

 temporal arch. Digits webbed. 



According to Dr. Baur, this genus differs from the Old World Emys in 

 that the frontals enter the orbits, and the rib-heads are long, as in 

 Chelydra. 



Emydoidea blandingii, (Holb.). 



Blanding's Tortoise. 



Cistuda blandingii, Holbrook, 1842, 54, i, 39, pi. 3 ; Emys meleagris, 

 Agassiz, 1857, 4> i> 442, pi. iv, figs. 20-22 ; Emys blandhigii, Boulenger, 



1889, 84, 114; Emydoidea blaiidhigii. Gray, 1870, 25, sup. 19; Baur, 



1890, 22, xxiii, 1099. 



Shell elongated oval, widest just behind the middle; rather high, con- 

 vex, and without keel. Carapace not serrated behind. Plastron large, 

 entirely closing the shell ; movable on carapace on the ligamentous hinges, 

 the two lobes movable on each other on a transverse hinge covered by 

 the suture between the pectorals and the abdominal scutes ; the posterior 

 lobe somewhat excavated behind. Posterior border of the entroplastron 

 reaching the humero-pectoral suture, but not intersected by it. Bridge 

 narrow and very short, almost obliterated Head long and wide, the 

 eyes opening somewhat upward. Upper jaw with the cutting edge con- 

 vex at the sides and notched in front. The alveolar surface narrow. 

 Lower jaw with narrow alveolar surface and with a hooked tip. 



Limbs, including the feet, scaly ; the toes short and provided with a 

 narrow web. Tail covered with scales ; that of the male about two and 

 two-thirds times in the length of the shell, that of the female shorter. 



