74- SCALY TORTOISE. 



back, like a stone or other inanimate object, by 

 which means it the more easily obtains its prey. 

 Mr. Pennant, in the supplement to his Arctic 

 Zoology, mentions this as a new species, under 

 the name of Serrated Tortoise. In New York it 

 is known by the title of the Snapping* Tortoise. 



* J. l C* 



Linnams seems to have been mistaken in suppos- 

 ing it a native of China. 



SCALY TORTOISE. 



'JVstudo Squama ta. 7'. carport orato superne u/in aim cullo cauda 

 $ pcdibuti wfitnmato, inferne licit $ mold. IJn. Syst. Nat. 

 Gmd. p. 1040. Sc/meid. Schildlcr. p. 340. 



Tortoise with ovjttc body, smooth beneath, but covered above, 

 together with the nock, feet, and tail, with numerous scales. 



Testudo squamata. Kant. Jav. p. 82. 



THIS highly singular species is described and 

 rudely figured in Bontius's History of Java, and 

 it may perhaps be doubted whether it properly be- 

 longs to this genus or not. It is, according to 

 Bontius, an inhabitant of fresh waters, where it 

 burrows under the banks, in order perhaps to de- 

 posit its eggs. The head is small, and resembles 

 that of a snake, with small moveable eyes, and 

 sharp teeth : the whole body, as well as the neck, 

 legs, and tail, covered with scales resembling 

 those of a carp, but stronger or thicker : the tail 

 is rather long than short : the under parts are 

 soft, smooth, and tender. Bontius informs us 

 that he saw two of these animals, and kept one 



