Dr. J. E. Gray on new species of Freshwater Tortoises. 263 



6. Malacoptila nigrifusca. 



Malacoptila fusca, ex Bogota, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1855, j). 136. 



M. nif/ricauti-brttnnea, jj/iimari/m scajns pallide fulvis ; lor is et 

 pluviis mystacalibus cum playa triangulari snper-pectorali 

 alhis : ventre medio crissoque fere unicoloribiis, albicantioribus ; 

 rostri basi late aurantia, apice nigro ; pedibus nigricanti- 

 briameis. 



Long, tola 6"5 ; alse 3"5 ; caudse 2'5. 



Hab. In Nova Granada, Santa Fe de Bogota. Mas. Brit, et Job. 

 Gould. 



Obs. Sp. Maldcoptilce fuscce affinissima sod statura minora et 

 coloribus uigricantioribus : rostri basi Isetius aurantia. 



Tbis New Grcnadian bird, whicb in my Synopsis of tbis family and 

 List of Bogota birds I united witb the true ftisca of Cayenne, cer- 

 tainly presents considerable claims for specific distinction. The 

 body is generally smaller, the bill in particular is shorter and not so 

 strong, and at the base is of a deep orange colour instead of pale 

 yellow, the black not extending so far towards the base of the upper 

 mandibles ; the markings on the head, throat and breast also, are 

 much blacker, and I have therefore named the bird nigrifusca. 

 There are specimens of it in the British Museum and in Mr. Gould's 

 collection. 



The East Peruvian or High-Amazon examples on the other hand 

 (which are held distinct by some naturalists under Du Bus' title 

 inornata) resemble the Cayenne bird much more nearly. After 

 remarking that the white lore-spot is nearly obsolete, and the skins 

 are rather finer and larger, it is in truth difficult (at least with my 

 present examples) to see further differences, and I therefore regard 

 M, inornata as a very doubtful species. 



Rio Napo specimens are still more like the ime fusca. 



On some New Species of Freshwater Tortoises from 

 North America, Ceylon and Australia. By Dr. J. E. 

 Gray, F.R.S., F.R.G.S. etc. 



Fam. I. Emydid.e. 

 The freshwater Tortoises which have been referred to the genus 

 Emys, as it is at present constituted, may be divided into two very 

 distinct genera ; and this is the more advisable as it is extremely 

 difficult to distinguish the American species of which it is composed, 

 and the sejjaration of any of them by organic characters must facili- 

 tate the process. The genera may be thus named and defined : — 



1. Emys. 



The lower jaw rounded beneath, and covered with the hinder part 

 of the homy beak ; the toes strong, covered with broad band-like 

 scales. 



This genus includes E. ornata, E. scripta, E. Holbrookii, and 

 many other species, both Asiatic and American. 



2. Pseudemys. 



The lower jaw flattened beneath and covered with a soft skin. The 



