CHELONIA. 179 



Merrem has recently distinguished, by the name of SPHARGIS, those Che- 

 Jonise whose shell is destitute of plates, and^erely covered with a sort of 

 leather. Such is 



Test, coriacea, L. A very large species of the Mediterranean. Its shell 

 is oval and pointed behind, exhibiting- three projecting longitudinal ridges. 



CHELTS, Dum. 



The Chelydes resemble fresh water Tortoises in their feet and nails; and 

 their most dominant character consists in their mouth, which opens cross- 

 wise, being unarmed with the horny beak common to the other Chelonis, 

 and similar to that of certain Batrachians, the Pipa in particular. 



Test- fimbria, Gm. The shell studded with pyramidal elevations, and the 

 body edged all round with a pinked fringe. It is found in Guiana. 



TRIOJTTX, Geoff. 



The Soft-swelled Tortoises have no scales, the shell and sternum being 

 simply enveloped by a soft skin; neither of those shells is completely sup- 

 ported by/bones, as the ribs do not extend to the edge of the upper one, 

 and are/united with each other only for a portion of their length, the parts 

 analogous to the sternal ribs being simple cartilage, and the sternal pieces 

 partially notched as in the sea-tortoises, not covering the whole lower sur- 

 face. The horn of their beak is invested externally with fleshy lips, and 

 their nose is prolonged into a little snout. Their tail is very short. They 

 live in fresh water, and the flexible edges of their shell aid them in 

 swimming. 



Test, ferox, Gm. (The Soft-shelled Tortoise of America) inhabits the 

 rivers of Carolina, Georgia, the Floridas, and of Guiana. It remains in am- 

 bush under roots of reeds, &c. whence it seizes birds, reptiles, &c., devours 

 the young Alligators, and is devoured in turn by the old ones. Its flesh is 

 highly esteemed. 



ORDER II. 



SAURIA.(l) 



The Saurians have a heart like that of the Chelonia, composed of 

 two auricles and a ventricle, sometimes divided by imperfect par- 

 titions. 



Their ribs are movable, partly connected with the sternum, and 

 rise and fall in respiration. 



(1) From r&vpof Lizard, animals analogous to Lizards. 



