Reptiles and Amphibians of Illinois. 247 



the same spotted and reticulate with black. Legs above and 

 feet above and below marked with black. Young examples 

 sometimes show a line of blackish specks on the under side of 

 the plastron extending from the anterior legs to the outside of 

 the posterior pair. 



Length of carapace, 6.00; width, 5.50; depth, with plas- 

 tron, 1.37. 



Throughout the State. Rock Creek, Piano; Oregon; 

 Quincy; Peoria (Brendel); Bluff Lake, Union Co.; Wabash 

 River, Mt. Carmel (Ridgway). 



Very similar to Amyda mutica in form and habits, and 

 perhaps the two should be placed in one genus. They may be 

 distinguished by the presence or absence of the septa of the 

 nostrils, as described. The round ocellate spots of the carapace 

 and the black-marked feet of this species are characteristic. 

 The habits of the two, so far as known, are the same. Both 

 species appear in the fish markets at Peoria, but are not dis- 

 criminated, all passing under the name of soft-shells or leather- 

 backs. 



Amyda, Fitzingek. 



Fitzinger, Syn. Rept., 1843, p. 30. 



Margin of upper jaw distinctly serrate. Nostrils slightly 

 inferior. No ridges on the nasal septum. Head more slender 

 than in Aspidonectes. 



Amyda mutica, LeS. Soft-shelled Turtle, Leather-back. 



Triomjx mutieus, LeS., Mem. Mas., 1827, XV., p. 263.— Holbr., N. 

 A. Herp., 1842, II., p. 19, pi. 2. 



Amyda mutica, Agassiz, L., Contr. Nat. Hist. V. S., 1857, I., p. 

 399; II., pi, 6, fig. 6. 7. — Jordan, Man. Vert. N. U. S., 3d ed., 

 1880, p. 168. — Smith, Geol. Surv. Ohio, Zoo), and Bot, IV., 

 1882, p. 668.— Davis and Rice, Bull. 111. State Lab. Nat. Hist., 

 I., No. 5. 1883, p. 52; Bull. Chicago Acad. Sci., 1883. 



Length about eight inches. Carapace and plastron carti- 

 laginous in great part, greatly depressed, smooth. Plastron 

 anterior, leaving the posterior legs exposed. Head small, slen- 

 der, pointed; nostrils opening in the extremity of a short, 

 fleshy proboscis. Jaws contracted, the horny covering con- 

 3 



