REPTILES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 213 



The flesh of this species is often used as food, and when 

 made into a soup is considered by many as quite a dehcacy. 

 The oil obtained from this species is carefully preserved in 

 many portions of the interior of the State, for its supposed vir- 

 tues in bruises, sprains, &c. when externally applied. 



The upper shell is of a dark brown color, oval, compressed 

 above, composed of five vertebral, eight lateral, and twenty- 

 five marginal plates, which are marked by radiating and con- 

 centric strias. A dorsal ridge is produced by the prominent 

 posterior angles of the vertebral plates ; the projections of the 

 posterior superior angles of the lateral plates also form, in some 

 specimens, indistinct carinas. The anterior marginal plates 

 are narrow and oblong ; the fifth, sixth and seventh are much 

 wider, while the posterior three plates are marked with strong, 

 concentric strias, and the posterior angles form strong spinous 

 points. The sternum is yellow, narrow, lozenge-shaped, com- 

 posed of ten plates, and united to the marginal plates by a long 

 narrow plate, having two smaller plates at its outer extremity. 

 The head is very large, scaly above ; eyes large ; jaws power- 

 ful, hooked ; beneath the chin, two warts ; neck above, cover- 

 ed with warts or small fleshy cirrhi ; beneath, granulated. 

 The legs are large and strong ; the fore legs are armed above 

 with large scales, feet with five claws ; hind legs with large 

 scales beneath, feet with four claws. Tail, two thirds the 

 length of the body ; round at its base, compressed at the 

 sides, tapering to a point ; armed above by a ridge of strong 

 pointed spines, diminishing towards the posterior extremity. 



The largest living specimen 1 have seen, was taken at 

 Marshfield ; its dimensions were as follows : Entire length, 

 44 inches, viz. length of the shell, 18 inches ; length of the 

 head and neck, when extended, 11 inches ; length of the tail, 

 15 inches. Width of the shell, 15 inches ; width across the 

 head, 4 inches. 



