NEW TORTOISE. 85 



in the reach. The woodcut annexed will convey 

 at once to the reader, those singular features in 

 the hills — the low line of cliffs resembling fortifica- 

 tions near their summit, and, still more remarkable, 

 the horizontal black streaks near their base. 



We here found the back shell of one of the largest of 

 the water-tortoises, from which the reach was named. 

 It measured ten inches, was very narrow at the 

 fore part, where the continuous line of the margin 

 was broken by an arch where the head protrudes, 

 and was much expanded posteriorly. It resembled 

 greatly the Chelidona oblonga, inhabiting Western 

 Australia, with the exception of the arch and its 

 more oval shape ; and as in that kind, the last 

 vertebral plate was divided by a suture. A shell of 

 a Victoria River tortoise has been deposited in the 

 British Museum. We here noticed many varieties 

 of turbinated shells, and among them a small buc- 

 cinum ; beside muscles. At a native fire-place I 

 saw heaps of the latter, as well as the bones of young 

 alligators; portions of the jaws with teeth were 

 picked up. 



The temperature during the day ranged from 90" 

 to 105° in the shade. A light breeze from north- 

 west in the evening succeeded a long calm. Before 

 sunset I got a peep at the eastern side of a valley, 

 before noticed, in the direction of our route back, and 

 felt convinced that by crossing it we should avoid 

 Thirsty Flat, and shorten the route to the boats. 



November 13.— Our walk this morning fully 

 realized all my expectations of the preceding even- 



