THE BOX TORTOISES OF NORTH AMERICA. 



By W. E. Taylor. 



In the discussion of the genus Terrapene* it is my purpose to pre- 

 sent, in detail, tlie osteological characters and the geographical distribu- 

 tion of the genus. In doing this I have had the privilege of examining 

 a great number of specimens, representing approximately the whole 

 distribution of the genus in the United States aud Mexico.t 



History and nomenclature. — From very early times systematic zoolo- 

 gists have mentioned the common box tortoise, under various names, 

 as occurring in North America. Over sixty authors have given one or 

 more species as found in various localities. But most of these writers 

 merely mention the names of the species, while localities, if given, are 

 indefinite. A full discussion of these writings would be out of place 

 in this article, and hence I content myself with barely mentioning a 

 few of the most important i)apers, the authors of which have reported 

 new species or proposed new names. 



Edwards, in 1751, gives a good figure of Terrapene Carolina. 



Linnteus, in his tenth edition of the Systema NaturiB, 1758, mentions 

 Testudo Carolina as from Carolina. His description was taken from 

 Edwards. 



Gray, in 1841, described Emys linosternoides, which may be Terrapene 

 triunguis, Agassiz. 



Gray, in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1849, 

 describes Onychotria mexicana as from Mexico. 



Agassiz, in his Contributions to the Natural History of the United 

 States, 1857, describes Cistiido virginea (Gmelin), Gistudo triunguis, 



*This is the generic name, which has to be used for the American box tortoises. 

 Cistuda, Fleming, 1822, is a synonym of Terrapene, Merrem, 1820. 



tThe author is under special obligations to Dr. G. Baur, Assistant Professor, Uni- 

 versity of Chicago, for material aid in the preparation of this paper, the synonymies 

 being, for the greater part, jirepared from his manuscripts, and to the authorities of 

 the U. S. National Museum for the loan of valuable specimens. He has also to thank 

 the following gentlemen for specimens from various parts of the country, viz : Prof. 

 H. Garman, Prof. S. S. Maxwell, Prof Benjamin B. Pentiekl, Dr. O. P. Hay, Mr. Gus- 

 tavo Kohu, Mr. Julius Hurter, Mr. Roy E. Larkiu, Prof. Theo. D, A. Cockerell, Prof. 

 H. B. Duncanson, Dr. Adolph Jleyer, and Prof. J. D. Bruner. 



Proceedings of the TJ. S. National Museum, Vol. XVII— No. 1019. 



