108 Mr. J. A. Murray on the 



similar, but concave beliind in suture with the convex front 

 of the fifth, which is about twice the size of the other verte- 

 brals, broader than long (2*37x3"37 inches), with the sides 

 sloping outward to the last marginal ; its suture with the 

 caudals is straight. Caudal notched, the suture of both plates 

 a little more than half the length of the fifth vertebral. Tail 

 short, 1*5 inch in length. Costals large, four in number, 

 nodosely carinate on their upper margin, but not extending, 

 or scarcely seen on the fifth vertebral. The first costal is 

 subtriangular and largest, convex in front, in suture with one 

 half of the first and the whole of the upper margin of the 

 second, third, and fourth marginals ; second costal in suture 

 with the fifth and sixth marginals, its greatest breadth about 

 two thirds its greatest length (4 x 2*75 inches); third costal 

 in suture with the seventh, eighth, and anterior thii-d of the 

 ninth ; it is nearly the size of the second in length and 

 breadth ; fourth costal smallest and forming sutures with the 

 posterior two thirds of the ninth marginal, entire tenth, 

 mesially the apex of the eleventh, and the sides of the fifth 

 vertebral. Marginals variable in size, not serrated poste- 

 riorly, but slightly dilated at the eighth, ninth, and tenth. 

 Feet anteriorly covered with imbricate scutes, posteriorly, or 

 higher up, subimbricate, the scutes much smaller. Toes 

 short, strongs and webbed to the claws ; they are covered with 

 annular scute-like plates. Claws strong and hooked. Sides 

 of the legs fringed with large scales. Colours : all the scales 

 on the tarsi and feet with a yellow spot. Head black, with 

 large spots, blotches, and streaks of yellow ; a patch on each 

 side of the snout, also on each side of the nostrils ; one under 

 each eye, another at the maxilla on the labial margin, and 

 two behind each eye. There are also some .large blotches on 

 the tympanic and temporal regions, and three on each side of 

 the lower jaw. Shell olive or greenish brown, the marginals, 

 lower part of costals, and vertebrals with pale yellowish 

 blotches and streaks of irregular shape. Sternum pale 

 yellow, wnth linear transverse lines, very close together on the 

 abdominal plates, and forming a large patch. The gulars 

 and postgulars are not marked. 



Mr. Gleadow, obtained this species in the Sind " Doro,^^ 

 in the Kushmore Talooka, Upper Sind. 



It difiers from all the described forms of Melanochelys, first 

 by its greater size, next by the size and shape of the vertebrals 

 and costals, and lastly by the markings of the shell and the 

 spotted character of the head and feet. 



