96 Species of North American Tortoises. 



states that there is a longitudinal depression along the back. — 

 This I could perceive in but one specimen, which indeed was the 

 largest of all that fell under my inspection, being ten inches in 

 length, and in this the depression was not more than three 

 inches long, and might not have been visible had the animal 

 been alive. The shell appears to be less varied and mixed 

 with dusky than in the T. ferox, but this may be the result of 

 youth. Upon the whole, I think it better to be cautious in 

 admitting unrestrictedly this species, until future researches 

 shall have shown to us one which has reached what may be 

 considered the full size. All animals vary with age, and no 

 description can be considered as correct unless taken from a 

 perfect and full formed animal. The young of the other 

 species differ almost as much from the old ones as this 

 does. 



3. Tbionvx bartrami. 



Caput coUumque appendicuhs tuberculiformibus, retractilibus, 

 instructa. 



In Bartram's Travels is the figure and description of another 

 species of this genus, which he found in St. John's River of 

 East Florida : the preceding specific character has been selected 

 from them. The peculiar appendages on the head and neck 

 render it perfectly distinct from every other species. He, 

 however, represents his animal, with five claws on each foot. 

 Now, although it is not impossible that this may be the case, for 

 it does not follow that every species of this genus must have 

 but three claws on each, any more than that the hard-shelled 

 tortoises should have five before and four behind, (which, by 

 the by, is not always the case,) yet, as the , circumstance has 

 been called in question by writers, this characteristic has been 

 omitted in the description. Mr. Bartram was but little of a 



