716 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1902. 



1833. Chelonia virgata Wagler, Descr. Icon. Amph., Pt. 3, pi. xxix (not of 



Schweigger, 1814). 

 1858. Thalassochelys corticata Girard, Herpet. U. S. Expl. Exp., p. 431, pi. xxix, 



figs. 1-4 (Madeira). 



The Loggerhead turtle is readily distinguished from the other 

 marine turtles by having live pairs of costal shields, while the other 

 two species with horny covering have only four pairs. The additional 

 pair is situated in front of the others, in contact with the first verte- 

 bral. No Porto Rican specimen being at hand, a young one from 

 Florida is figured herewith, so as to help in identifying specimens. 



This species is included in the Porto Rican fauna on the strength of 

 Dr. Stahl's testimonjr. It is probably not rare, but being of no com- 

 mercial value it attracts no attention. 



189 



lss 



190 



Figs. 188-190.— Caretta caretta, young. Florida. Natural size. 188, shell from below; 189, head 

 from side; 190, underside of head. No. 14823, U.S.N.M. 



Genus CHELONIA" Latreilie. 



1800. Chelonia Brongniart, Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris, II, p. 89 (nornen nudum). 



1802. Chelonia Latreille, Hist. Nat. Kept., 1, p. 22 (type C. mydas). 



1806. Chelone Brongniart, Mem. Saw Etrang., I, p. 610 (emended). 



1814. Chelonias Rafinesque, Specchio d. Sci. (Palermo), II, no. 9, 1 sett. 



1814, p. 66 (emended). 

 1838. Mydas Cocteau in Sagra's Hist. Fis. Pol. Nat. Cuba, IV, Rept., p. 22 



(type Cli. riridis) (not of Fabrieius 1799). 

 1843. Mydasea Gervais, Diet. d'Hist. Nat, III, p. 457 (same type). 

 1848. Megemys Gistel, Naturg. Thierr., p. viii (substitute for Chelonia). 



CHELONIA MYDAS'' (Linnaeus). 



1758. Testudo mydas Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., 10th ed., I, p. 197 (Ascension Island, 

 etc.); 12th ed., I, 1766, p. 350. — Chelone m. Brongniart, Mem. Sav. 

 Strang., I, 1806. p. 611.— Boulenger, Cat. Chel. Brit. Mus., 1889, p. 

 180, (part: Belize, West Indies). — Chelonia in. Schweigger, Arch. 



"^eAGJK?/, turtle. 



b Mydas, said to be a corruption for ejli vs, £// OSos, a turtle (from /tvSaa), am wet?) 



