THE GEOGRAPHIC TURTLES. 77 



sal edge of the eye. In other examples the tapering por- 

 tion of the mark is lost and there is left only the body, 

 forming a large spot behind the eye. The isolated spot 

 in such cases is quite characteristic from its transverse po- 

 sition and bright color. A median dorsal line extends from 

 the tip of the snout posteriorly gradually widening a little 

 till opposite the posterior part of the eye, then gradually 

 narrowing and fading to be lost, commonly, near the point 

 at which the two comma-shaped marks are nearest each 

 other, but sometimes continuing back upon the neck as a 

 very narrow and faint line. At the outer extremity of the 

 comma-shaped spot are several narrow curved lines which 

 start from the ventral posterior edge of the orbit and ex- 

 pand posteriorly and ventrally finally to turn inward pos- 

 terior to the comma-shaped mark and run parallel with it. 

 Other similar lines also starting from the orbit extend ven- 

 trally and posteriorly passing across the tympanum and 

 continuing along the side of the neck. The latter are fre- 

 quently broken and may encircle the tympanum, leaving a 

 pale central dash. A yellow spot is almost invariably pres- 

 ent beneath each eye. Three spots on the mandible are 

 noticeable from their position, one on the symphysis and 

 one at each angle of the mouth. 



The expanded posterior extremity of the carina of each 

 dorsal plate is in this species distinctly black. In young 

 this is the only black of the dorsal side of the carapace. 

 Later in life, large imperfectly-defined black blotches ap- 

 pear, one at the posterior edge of each costal plate ; other 

 blotches still more obscure occur at the posterior edge of 

 each marginal plate above. Besides these, there may be 

 a pair of black dots, one on each side of the ridge of each 

 dorsal plate. 



The plastron in young M. lesueuri is very characteristi- 

 cally marked. The whole central region, embracing most 



