212 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY ‘STATE ‘MUSEUM. 
anteriorly. Posterior surface of carapace flattened. Lateral 
carina formed by carapace, much more firm than its posterior 
margin, and also jutting out well. Bridge of carapace rather 
narrow. Upper surface of carapace finely prickly or roughened 
to touch, and asperities few and small on outer radius. Lower 
edge of carapace perfectly smooth, like entire lower surface of 
body. Plastron similar to carapace anteriorly, where it is carti- 
laginous and retractile. Its formation with bony part forms broad 
lateral ridge, cartilaginous portion of which is greater than 
osseous. Without bony bridge rest of bony plastron more or 
Common Soft Shelled Turtle. Aspidonectes spinifer (Le Sueur). (Young.) 
less ellipsoid, with width about 114 in its length. Length of bony 
plastron about half length of carapace. Head large, elongately 
oval and attenuated, more depressed below. Snout conic, pro- 
duced into a cylindrical fleshy proboscis well beyond end of 
mandible. Eye moderate, high and prominent. Mouth large, 
horny or firm in front, and with entire jaws, lower fitting in 
upper. Lips large, thick and fleshy along sides of each jaw. 
Nostrils as 2 adjoining tubes at tip of produced snout, and 
rounded. Interorbital space a little concave. Head and neck 
