1912. ] Miscellanea. 213 
does not grow to more than eight or ten inches in length and not 
more than a seer in weight. It deposits 5 to 8 eggs at a time and 
buries them in sand. Three specimens were secured. 
4. The Panchunia (* Kachuga tectum (Gray)) similar to the 
Chapaut, is an intermediate species between the Dhoor and the 
Chapaut, growing to one foot in length and two seers in weight. 
No specimens of this species could be found on my trip. 
5. The Kala or Kali Kaunttha of the Bengalis (Hardella thurgit 
(Gray) ), is known as Gaiva among the Gondris who are the 
expert catchers of tortoises. This species grows to two feet by 
fourteen inches and weighs 19 to 20 seers. The eggs of the species 
are not found in the sand bank on the Ganges, but are 
occasionally met with in the months of August and September, 
when the water subsides. The eggs are said to be oval. This 
species is also known as Kariha (or Kariyaon) among the Teors 
and Binds on the Kosi side. One specimen was secured. 
Of the soft-shelled water-tortoises four species are recognized 
by the catchers. 
6. The Kataha or Kattha of the Gondris and Palaiya of 
the Binds (Tvionyx gangeticus, Cuvier) is a roundish low species 
growing to four feet by three feet and weighing two to three maunds. 
It brings forth round eggs which are found in the mud after 
the subsidence of the floods. The eggs are perfectly spherical, 
measuring 2°3 cm. in diameter. Some eggs were secured on 
a previous trip. This species is said to be good to eat. One 
specimen was obtained. 
7. The Keora of the Gondris (Trionyx hurum, Gray) is a 
smaller species than the Kataha. It weighs twelve to fourteen 
seers, grows to sixteen inches by twelve inches in the disk, and 
brings forth round eggs. It is said to be very bad eating owing 
to its rank smell. One specimen was secured on this trip, and 
another on a former occasion near Rajmahal. Both are un- 
usually pale in colour, lacking to a large extent the characteristic 
markings of the species. Dr. Annandale thinks it probable that 
they represent a local race distinguished from the typical one by a 
more uniform coloration and possibly by being smaller. In any 
case no structural difference likely to be constant can be detected. 
8. The biggest of these soft kinds is the Sim (Chitra indica 
(Gray)) which grows to five feet in length of disk and weighs six to 
seven maunds. Like the Kataha it is to be found in the Kosi 
and also at Kustea and occasionally at Chilmari. It does not bite 
but disables its victim by blows, often injuring fishing boats 
by the impact thereof. It is bad and coarse eating. No 
specimen was secured, but there can be little doubt from the 
fishermen’s description that C. indica is the species referred to 
under the above name. 
9. The Abhua (Emyda granosa (Schoepfi)), which is also 
known as Matia because it is supposed to subsist on earth, is 
a smaller species than the Kataha. In winter they are found 
peeping out of mud holes in the banks. It is said to be numerous 
