FAMILY CHELONID. 17 
MUHLENBERG’S TORTOISE. 
Emys MUHLENBERGII. 
PLATE VIII. FIG. 15.— (STATE COLLECTION.) 
Testudo punctata, var. Scuceprr, Hist. Testud. p.132, pl. 31. 
Chersine muhlenbergii. MERREM, Syst. p. 30. 
Clemmys? WacueEr, p. 136. 
Emys biguttata. Say, Acad. Nat. Sc. Vol. 4, p. 205. 
Terrapene. BONAP. 
T. muhlenbergii. Le Conte, Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. Vol. 3, p.119. 
E. id. Harwan, Medical and Physical Researches, p. 152. 
E. id. Horgrook, N, Am. Herpetology, Vol.1, pl. 5; and Vol.1, p. 45, pl. 4, of Ed. 2da. 
Characteristics. Shell elevated, carinate. Neck with one or more orange spots on the side. 
Length 4 inches. 
Description. Head moderate, depressed above ; upper jaw deeply notched, the lower with 
an acute tip. Membrane of the neck rugose, with unequal papille and a large fold. Fore 
feet scaly ; the five toes divided from the claws nearly to their bases. Claws subequal, the 
external and internal being somewhat shorter. Hind legs longer than those before, with four 
toes, and one obsolete on the inner side. Tail sub-triangular, with about fourteen pair of sub- 
caudal plates. Shell elevated, carinate, dilated behind, narrowed in the middle; anterior 
margin scolloped, the posterior emarginate. The intermediate marginal plate sub-linear and 
very small, projecting slightly beyond its neighbors; the four next on each side nearly hori- 
zontal ; the three following more vertical, and the remainder horizontal, the most posterior 
declivous. First vertebral plate pentagonal, the three next hexagonal, the fifth irregularly 
four-sided, the remainder pentagonal. All the scales with concentric angular striz and corres- 
ponding ridges, except on the middle marginal plates, where they become almost obsolete ; in 
old individuals, they become partially or entirely obliterated. Sternum emarginate behind. 
Scapular plates triangular, with their external angles projecting and rounded within, as shown 
on the plate above referred to. The remaining plates sub-quadrate ; abdominal largest ; 
femoral with its posterior angle projecting beyond the caudal, which is rhomboidal ; all have 
concentric striz. 
Color. Head dark-colored above, with darker dashes and crimson dots on the cheeks. Irides 
brown. Chin and sides of the jaw with bright red streaks and spots. Two large irregular 
orange or yellow spots, often confluent, on each side of the back part of the head. Inside of 
the feet and under side of the tail, red ; this is also the predominant color of the exterior parts, 
but itis of a darker hue. Shell dark brown, with irregular sub-radiating lines of a dingy 
yellow. Sternum blackish, with yellow or flesh-color along the medial line. Claws of a dark 
horn-color. 
Wength¥oteshells ©. 52... 0.26-00-. 5 See sees 325k 
Heighten ee LOO) eee eee 1°8. 
Length of the head and neck from the intermediate plate,. 1°4. 
Fauna — Parr 3. 3 
