On the Torfo/'sfis of the ^ Zoologjj of Mexico' 109 



XV. — Notes on the Tortoises of the ' Zoology of Mexico ' of 

 MM. A. Dumeril and Bocourt. By Dr. J. E. Gray, 

 F.R.S. &c. 



This is a part of the zoological researches of the scientific 

 expedition to Mexico and Central America, published under 

 the direction of M. Milne-Edwards, entitled, " Etudes sur 

 les Reptiles et les Batraciens, par M. Auguste Dumeril, 

 Membre de I'Institut, et M. Bocourt, Naturaliste-voyageur, 

 Membre de la commission scientifique de Mexique." The 

 work seems to have been stopped by the Revolution ; for 

 this livraison appeared in 1870, and I have not seen any 

 since. 



This part contains 10 plates, marked i.-xii., the eighth and 

 tenth not being published. The text only refers to the Che- 

 lonians, with the exception of a few pages about crocodiles ; 

 so I shall confine my observations to the Chelonians. 



The work is written in a very slight and popular style ; 

 and the illustrations are more decorative than accurate, the 

 figures appearing to be very much embellished. Indeed the 

 descriptions are of the most prominent characters only, and far 

 behind our knowledge of the structure of the Chelonians — no 

 details of the skulls, or the palates, or the development of the 

 sternum being given, which would at once have enabled us to 

 ascertain the smaller groups to which the species belong, 

 to determine easily their proper relations, and to be certain 

 whether they are correctly identified. 



Indeed the whole work is a lamentable exhibition of the 

 very backward state of zoological science in the French 

 capital ; the principal part of it seems to be merely the produc- 

 tion of probably an excellent collector of animals in foreign 

 countries, but who has had no preliminary education. 



Like many other zoological works of late years published 

 in France, it is in great part a mere compilation by a " prentice 

 hand," which often shows great industry but no zoological 

 talent. It seems to be the system now for such works to 

 be composed by a person who is taken from the zoolo- 

 gical laboratory and sent out to collect, or desired to study 

 the collections and works on a given subject, and write the 

 best he can upon it, and publish it, generally in conjunction 

 with the name of a Member of the Institute, who writes a 

 few pages, differing in number according to his leisure or 

 inclination, puts their two names in the title, and, if I have 

 not been very incorrectly informed, takes the lion's share of 

 " honorarium " paid for the preparation of the work. 



