206 KEPTILIA : TESTUDINATA. XXX. 



aa. Nostrils terminal, crescent-shaped ; a prominent longitudinal ridge project- 

 ing from each side of septum ; head broad ; edge of upper jaw entire. 



ASPIDONECTES, 306. 



305. AMYDA Agassiz. (Lat., turtle.) 



599. A. mutica (Le Sueur). LEATHER-TURTLE. A depres- 

 sion along median line of carapace ; no spines nor tubercles along 

 anterior margin nor on back. Olive, young spotted ; feet not mot- 

 tled below. L. 12. Canada to Ohio R., and N. W. (Lat., un- 

 armed.) 



306. ASPIDONECTES Wagler. (do^rtV, shield ; i/^/crj/r, 



swimmer.) 

 a. Lower parts of body and feet spotted with dark. 



600. A. spinifer (Le Sueur). COMMON SOFT-SHELLED TUR- 

 TLE. Carapace olive brown with dark spots ; head and neck olive 

 green with light and dark stripes ; legs and feet mottled every- 

 where with dark ; $ with the tubercles on the front of the carapace 

 smaller than in the 9 > ^ e body also longer and the tail extending 

 considerably beyond the margin of the carapace. Canada to Ky. 

 and Minn., abundant. (Lat., spine-bearing.) 



601. A. nuchalis Agassiz. A marked depression on either side 

 of the blunt median keel, which is dilated and triangular anteriorly ; 

 spines and tubercles prominent in $. Cumberland and Upper 

 Tenn. Rivers. 



aa. Lower parts of body and feet white. 



602. A. ferox Wagler. Tubercles on shell largest in g ; back 

 blotched in adult ; young with black spots and ocelli and with 2 or 

 3 concentric black marginal lines. S. Ind. to Ga. and La. (Lat., 

 fierce.) 



FAMILY CXX. CHELYDRID^J. (THE SNAPPING 

 TURTLES.) 



Shell high in front, low behind ; body heaviest forward ; head and 

 neck very large, the snout narrowed forward; jaws strongly hooked, 

 and very powerful ; tail long, strong, with a crest of horny, com- 

 pressed tubercles ; plastron small, cross-shaped, with 9 plates be- 

 sides the very narrow bridge. Claws 5-4, strong, the web small. 



Large turtles of great strength and voracity, chiefly aquatic ; 2 

 of the 3 species are American, the third (Platysternum) is from 

 China. 



a. Eyes close together, partly superior; head covered with soft skin ; tail with 

 two rows of moderate scales beneath ; ridges of carapace becoming obsolete 



with age ; jaws moderately hooked CHELYDRA, 307. 



aa. Eyes distant, lateral ; head very large, covered with smooth, symmetrical 

 plates ; tail with many small imbricate scales beneath j carapace with 3 

 large persistent keels; jaws very strongly hooked. 



> MACROCHELYS, 308. 



