CHAP, xix.] REPTILES. 409 



(6 sp.), and Pelomedusa (3 sp.), inhabit Tropical and South Africa 

 and Madagascar. 



FAMILY 59. TEIONYCHID^E. (3 Genera, 25 Species.) 

 GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. 



The distribution of the Trionychidse, or Soft Tortoises, is very 

 different from that of the Chelydidse, yet is equally interesting. 

 They abound most in the Oriental region, extending beyond it 

 to Northern China and Japan. In the Nearctic region they are 

 only found in the .Eastern States, corresponding curiously to 

 the distribution of plants, in which the affinity of Japan to 

 the Eastern States is greater than to California. The Triony- 

 chidse are also found over the Ethiopian region, but not in 

 Madagascar. 



The genera are, Trionyx (17 sp.), which extends over the 

 whole area of the family as above indicated; Cycloderma (5 sp.), 

 peculiar to Africa; Emyda (3 sp.), the peninsula of India, 

 Ceylon, and Africa. 



FAMILY 60. CHELOOTIILE. (2 Genera, 5 Species.) 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. All the warm and tropical Seas. 



The Marine Turtles are almost universally distributed. 

 Dermatochelys (1 sp.), is found in the temperate seas of both 

 the Northern and Southern Hemispheres ; Chelone (4 sp.), ranges 

 over all the tropical seas G. viridis,. the epicureans' species, 

 inhabiting the Atlantic, while 0. imbricata which produces the 

 " tortoiseshell " of commerce is found in the Indian and Pacific 

 oceans. 



