12 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 
THE PAINTED TORTOISE 
Emys PIcTa. 
PLATE V. FIG. 10.— (STATE COLLECTION.) 
Testudo picta. Gm. Scunerp. Schildkrof. p. 348, 
ihe id. Scnuaprr, Hist, Test. p. 23, pl. 4. (Adult.) 
T. cinerea. Ip. pl. 3. fig. 3. (Young.) 
Tortue peinté. Daup. Hist. Rept. Vol. 2, p. 164. 
E. picta. Say, Ac. Sc. Vol. 4, p. 211. Le Conrs, Ann. Lye. Vol. 3, p. 115. 
E. id. Haran, Med. & Phys, p. 151. 
E. belli. Gray, Synops. p. 12. 
E. picta et belli. Dumer. & Bis. Hist. Rep. Vol. 2, p. 297 and 302. 
E. picta. Hoisroox, N. Am. Herp. Vol. 2, p.19, pl. 3. Srorer, Mass. Rep. p. 208. 
E. id. Ip. N. Am. Herp. Ed. 2da, Vol.1, p. 75, pl. 10. 
Characteristics. Shell oblong, oval, smooth ; olive, with a yellow stripe along the sutures. 
Head with yellow lines along the sides. Neck and feet with red stripes. 
Length 5 — 9 inches. 
Description. Shell oblong, oval, not carinated, smooth, minutely notched behind. First 
vertebral plate with projecting acute lateral angles in front, rounded or sinuous behind ; the 
two following irregularly quadrate ; the third having a small projection forward on its anterior 
margin; the fourth hexagonal, with sinuous sides; the last obscurely hexagonal. Of the 
lateral plates, the first is irregularly four-sided, the margin contiguous to the second vertebral 
plate shortest ; the second is by far the largest, and the posterior smallest. The intermediate 
marginal plate linear, often doubly notched or bidentate in front; the first and second pair, 
together with the eighth and ninth on each side, largest. Sternum solid, elliptical, oval, finely 
serrate in front, the medial line often irregular ; scapular plates triangular, with a slight knob- 
like process at the exterior angles, which project beyond the margin ; pectoral plates narrow.’ 
Head moderate ; upper jaw notched, with a slight process on each side of the emargination. 
Feet palmate, with five slender, acute and nearly straight claws in front, and four behind. 
Tail short, scaly, cylindrical. Independent of the sutures indicated externally on the shell by 
the markings, there are others concealed by the scaly epidermis. 
Color. This varies exceedingly in different individuals, but the following is the most usual 
distribution : Shell olive brown or blackish, with irregularly dilated yellow lines, bordered 
with black along the suture. A very narrow yellow dorsal line from the margin of the inter- 
mediate plate, to the space between the two posterior marginal plates. The upper surfaces 
of the marginal plates with parallel vertical yellow lines, or else with concentric lines of the 
same color; occasionally these lines become abbreviated, disconnected, and sometimes small 
orbicular yellow or reddish spots margined with black ; the under side of these plates yellow 
or reddish, with rounded or sub-quadrate dark spots. Sternum yellow or deep orange ; all 
the plates towards the medial line with irregular concentric approximated dusky lines ; these 
lines becoming occasionally confluent, and extending irregularly along the sutures toward the 
