54 TRICARINATED TORTOISE. 



hind, all strong, black, rather bowed, and sharp- 

 pointed. " 



On a general view this species appears extremely 

 to resemble the T. Grseca, or common tortoise, 

 the shell measuring about four inches in length, 

 and the whole animal, from the nose to the end 

 of the tail, about six. 



TRICARINATED TORTOISE. 



Testudo Tricarinata. T. testa ovali demisse convexa, marginc in* 

 tegra, scutellis disci omnibus car'matis. Schoepf. Test. p. p. t. 2. 



Tortoise with oval slightly convex shell, with entire margin, 

 and all the scutella of the disk carinated. 



THIS is described by Mr. Schoepf from a small 

 ^ specimen in the collection of Mr. ^Hermann, pre- 

 served in spirits, and seeming to be a very young 

 animal; yet differing in so many respects from 

 any other kind, that Mr. Schoepf has no hesitation 

 in considering it as a distinct species. It agrees 

 as to shape and other particulars with Linnasus's 

 description of his T. orbicularis. Its size scarce 

 exceeds that of a large walnut : its colour is black- 

 ish : the shell consisting of thirteen scutella, each 

 row marked on the middle by a longitudinal ca- 

 rina, and wrinkled with several lateral furrows and 

 roughish points ; the marginal pieces are twenty- 

 three in number : the head is large and of a brown 

 colour, variegated on the sides with white : the 

 legs short, strong, and covered with a scaly skin : 



