212 Records of the Indian Museum. [ Vor. Vile 
denticulated, nearly aslong asthe head. Ventral 6, does not reach 
the anal. Anal 12. Caudal 17, deeply lobed, the lower lobe being 
much longer than the upper and ends in a filamentous prolongation. 
Adipose dorsal is high and pointed, length of the base being slight- 
ly shorter than the base of the anterior dorsal fin. Colour in 
spirit superiorly greyish brown and inferiorly dull white. Fins. 
stained with black. 
B. L. CHAUDHURI. 
REPTILES. 
AQUATIC TORTOISES OF THE MIDDLE GANGES AND BRAHMA- 
PUTRA.—From enquiries from the actual catchers it appears that 
there are at least nine distinct species of water-tortises recognized 
by them in the beds of the Ganges up to Sahebgunge, the Kosi 
up to Jogbani (Anchra Ghat), the Mahanada in Maldah District 
and the Brahmaputra up to Goalpara. Of these six species were 
secured during a trip to Rajmehal undertaken in March, 1912. 
For the identification of the tortoises I am indebted to Dr. N. 
Annandale. 
Among the hard-shelled species four are distinguished :— 
1. The Sal or Sail (Kachuga lineata (Gray) grows to three 
feet by twenty inches, weighs 20 to 30 seers and is easily distin- 
guished by its larger size and very smooth and oily back from 
the Dhoor which is the common medium-sized species with rough 
back. The Sd/ does not breed and is not found with eggs until 
it reaches a much bigger size than the adult Dhoor. ‘Two speci- 
mens of Sd/ were secured. Dr. Annandale thinks that Batagur 
baska (Gray) is probably confounded with this species by the tor- 
toise-catchers. 
2. The Dhoor (Kachuga dhongoka (Gray) ) is a smaller species 
than the Sal. It grows to sixteen inches by twelve inches and 
weighs eight to ten seers. It has a slightly rough back with pointed 
knobs in the middle line ; the males are said to be very much smaller, 
not growing more than ten inches in length. The eggs are oval 
and very long, measuring 5°5 X 3°3 cm., and 30 to 35 are deposited 
at a time. Twenty-eight specimens of Dhoor were secured 
together with several eggs dug out of sand banks. Some in- 
dividuals brought forth eggs while being packed. ‘The shell of 
the egg is very brittle and there is a large air-space inside it, 
the external surface is obscurely pitted. 
Both the Sd/ and Dhoor breed in March and deposit eggs 
on the sand bank of the Ganges but as they leave trailing marks 
behind, the hiding places of the eggs are easily discovered. Both 
Sal and Dhoor have long (oval) eggs, the Sd/’s being much bigger 
than those of the Dhoor. The young ones come out in May or 
June. They are occasionally caught in the fine nets in the 
month of June or July. 
3. The Chapaut or Chauputa (Kachuga smith (Gray)) is 
the smallest species but otherwise very similar to the Dhoor. It 
