4 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



GENUS SPHARGIS. Merre?n. 



Body covered above by a leathery skin instead of scales. The ribs not soldered together, 

 and not united to the almost membranous sternum by the marginal plates. This covering 

 is tubercular in the young, but elevated into distinct ridges in the adult. Feet fin-shaped, 

 ivithout nails. 



Obs. Tliis genus was first indicated by Merrem. The names of Corindo, Dermochelis and 

 Dermatochelys have been succesavely proposed by Fleming, De Blainville and Wagler. 



THE LEATHER TURTLE, 



Sphahgis coriacea. 



(PLATE V. FIG. 90 



Testudo coriacea. LiN. 12 ed. p. 350. 



Tortue hith. Dadd. Hist. Kept. Vol. 2, p. 62, pi. 18, fig. 1. 



T. coriacea. MiTCHiLL, Med. Rep. New Series, 1812, p. 191, and 1813, figure. 



Sphargis id. Griffith, Cuv. Vol. 9, p. 17, and 88 plate. Gray, Synops. p. 20. 



S. id. BoNAP. Faun. Ital. figure. (Young.) 



S. id. Storer. Mass. Rep. p. 217, plate 4. Holbrook, N. Am. Herp. Vol. 2, p. 45, pi. 6. 



Characteristics. Shell with seven longitudinal ridges, truncated in front, pointed behind. 

 Length 6-8 feet. 



Description. Upper surface smooth and polished, of a leathery appearance, truncate, emar- 

 ginate in front, with a rather elongated process on the sides of the neck, obtusely pointed 

 behind. Surface of the shield divided into separate oblong compartments by seven equidis- 

 tant longitudinal ridges, which are obsoletely nodulous, becoming more indistinct behind : 

 The first runs along the dorsal ridge ; the next on each side commencing in advance of the 

 dorsal ridge, and approaches it behind ; the third pair on eacli side begins posterior to the 

 first ; the last ridge is formed by the margin of the shell. These ridges are acute, slightly 

 interrupted on the edge. Beneath, smooth, of a somewhat softer consistence. Head smooth, 

 compressed nearly to an edge anterior to the eyes. Jaws sharp, the upper emarginate in 

 front to receive the acute hooked point of the lower jaw ; on each side of the central notch 

 is another, not quite as deep, and more rounded. Strong spinous processes in the roof of the 

 mouth, and in the oesophagus, Nostrils small, circular, and placed behind the tip of the 

 snout. Eyes large, opening obliquely. Anterior feet smooth, elongated, ending in a blunt 

 point, and twice the length of the posterior pair. Posterior feet rounded, or rather obliquely 

 truncated behind, with a softer margin. Tail pyramidal, compressed laterally, pointed, and 

 extending beyond the shell. 



Color, of the head and buckler, dull blackish brown, and in the fresh state with a bluish 

 tinge. Extremities obsoletely spotted with greyish. The under parts marbled with blackish, 

 on a yellowish or soiled whitish ground. 



