20 EMYDOSAURIAN AND TESTUDINIAN REPTILES 
I look upon this energetic expression of opinion, from the 
pen of a distinguished author, as a complete vindication of 
the attitude which I have taken up on this highly important 
question, which intimately affects the future well being of 
biological science. 
a. Carapace with persistent fontanelles between the costal and 
marginal plates; marginal shields twenty-five ; four 
pair of costal shields ; head small. 
b. Posterior margin of carapace smooth or nearly so; jaws 
not hooked ; one pair of prefrontal shields .. .. i. Chelonia. 
bb. Posterior margin of carapace serrated; jaws hooked ; 
two pairs of prefrontal shields oh ee ii, Mretmochelys. 
aa. Carapace completely ossified m the adult ; marginal 
shields usually twenty-seven; five or more pair of 
costal shields:; head large ne “is .. iii. Caretta. 
Genus III... CHELONTA. 
Chelonia, Brongniart, Bull. Soc. Philom., ii. 1800, p. 89 (mydas) ; 
Gray, Catal. Tort., p. 54, 1844. 
Euchelys, Girard, U.S. Explor. Exped., Herp. p. 447, 1858 (macropus= 
mydas). 
Chelone, Strauch, Chelon. Stud., p. 59, 1862 (mydas); Boulenger, 
Catal. Chelon., p. 180, 1889. 
Carapace with persistent fontanelles between the costal 
and marginal plates, its posterior border smooth or indistinetly 
serrated : marginal shields twenty-five; costal shields in 
four pair; intergular shield present, well developed. Head 
small; jaws not hooked; symphysis of lower jaw short ; 
one pair of prefrontal shields. Herbivorous (xeAovy, a tor- 
toise). 
All tropical and subtropical seas. | Monotypic. 
3. CHELONIA MYDAS. 
Testudo mydas, Linneeus, Syst. Nat., i. p. 350, 1766. 
Chelonia mydas, Schweigger, Prodr., p. 22, 1814. 
Chelonia marmorata, Duméril & Bibron, Erpét. Gen., ii. p. 546, 
pl. xxiii. fig. 1, 1835, Ascension, 
Chelone mydas, Boulenger, Catal. Chelon.. p. 180, 1889. 
THE GREEN TURTLE. 
Carapace feebly unicarinate in the young, arched or 
subtectiform in the adult ; dorsal shields juxtaposed. Horny 
sheaths of lower jaw with strongly denticulated edge. Limbs 
usually with a single claw. Olive or brown, spotted or 
marbled with yellowish. 
