462 



CHELONIA. 



The species of this group are of small or moderate size, with a few 

 exceptions, such as the " Galapagos Turtle" amongst the terrestrial 

 tribe, and the " Soft>shelled Turtle" amongst the fluviatile. Some of 

 them are esculent, hence useful to man ; their eggs are likewise es- 

 teemed, and sought after for the table. 



. Testudinata, KLEIN, Quadr. disp. 1751. OPP. Keptil. Prodr. 1811, 4, 8. 

 MERE. Tent. Syst. Amph. 1820, 17. FITZ. Neue Class. Kept. 1826, 5. BELL, Zool. 

 Journ. Ill, 1828, 419 & 513. BONAP. Sagg. Distr. Anim. vertebr. 1831, 70. TSCH. 

 Faun. Peruan. Herp. 1845, 21. LEC. in Proc. Acad. nat. Sci. Philad. VII, 1854. 



Testudines, WAGL. Naturl. Syst. Amph. 1830, 133. 



Amydae, OPP. Reptil. Prodr. 1811, 4, 6, & 9. AGASS. Contr. Nat. Hist. U. S. Amer. 

 I, 1857, 249 & 310. 



Diyitata, MERR. Tent. Syst. Amph. 1820, 20. BELL, Zool. Journ. Ill, 1828, 513. 



Steganopoda, WAGL. Naturl. Syst. Amph. 1830, 133. FITZ. Syst. Kept, i, 1843, 29. 



Tylopoda, WAGL. Naturl. Syst. Amph. 1830, 138. FITZ. Syst. Kept. i, 1843, 29. 



OBSERV. The name of Testudinata is used by the authors quoted 

 above to designate the entire group of Chelonians. None, that we are 

 aware, have restricted it exclusively to the fresh-water and land spe- 

 cies, as here proposed, although the latter have occasionally appeared 

 first on their list. 



FAM. HYDRASPEDES. 



In the " Day-book" of the Expedition, we read, under the heading 

 of Southeast Australia, the following brief remark regarding a species 

 of this family, the specimens of which appear to have been lost, since 

 none were found in the collection, as it came into our hands. 



" Platemys macquaria, small, the neck not retractile but flexed to 

 one side, and not of unusual length. Disposition inoffensive. Kept 

 in water at Mr. McLeay's." 



Now, Platemys macquaria, DUM. & BIBB. Erpet. ge"n. II, 1835, 438, 

 is made the type of the genus Chelywys in the " Catal. of Tort. 

 Crocod. & Amphisb. in the Collect, of the Brit. Mus. 1844, 42," 

 where the other synonyms may be found. Consult likewise the 

 "Catalogue of Shield. Reptiles, in the collection of the British 

 Museum. Part 1. Testudinata. 1855, 57." 



