106 Zoological Society :— 
Having lately received more perfect specimens of some of the 
Indian Box Tortoises, I am induced to suggest their arrangement as 
follows :— 
The Tortoises belonging to the tribe Cistudina are characterized 
by having the sternum attached to the back by a ligamentous suture 
on each side, and divided across the centre by a similar cross suture, 
leaving the front and hind lobe more or less moveable. 
In the normal Cistudine, which have the lobes of the sternum 
moveable at all ages, the cartilaginous sutures and the suture between 
the pectoral and ventral shields of the sternum are at the same situ- 
ation; and the lobes of the sternum are broad, as broad as the open- 
ing of the thorax, and cover the legs when they are contracted. 
The normal Cistudine may be divided into genera, according to 
the more or less aquatic habits of the animal, as indicated by the 
structure of the feet. 
I. Sternum-lobes unequal ; front shorter, almost free from the sym- 
physis. The hind foot slender, elongate ; toes very unequal, 
second longest. N. America. 
1. CisTuDO. 
Thorax convex, solid; sternum rounded or truncated before and 
behind; the front lobe smaller, almost free from the symphysis. 
The fore legs with large shields in front ; the toes short, enclosed, 
not webbed, with short conical claws. ‘The hind feet elongate, nar- 
row, with the second toes produced ; the rest short, nearly enclosed, 
not webbed; the soles of the feet with subequal moderate-sized 
scales, the hinder edge rounded. 
N. America. 
* The hind feet with small hinder or outer fourth toes. Cistudo. 
Cistupo caRo.ina, Gray, Cat. Shield Rept. B.M. p. 39. 
Of which C. ornata and C. major, Agassiz, seem to be varieties. 
** The hind feet without any small fourth toes. Onychotria. 
CisTUDO MEXICANA, Gray, Cat. /. c. p. 40. 
See also C. triunguis, Agassiz, which is said to be smaller than 
C. carolina and C. mexicana. 
Dr. Holbrook describes and figures Cistudo Blandingwi (t. 3) asa 
separate species, because it has a head like Hmys, the upper jaw 
deeply emarginate in front, the front lobe of the sternum less ele- 
vated. On these characters Leconte refers it to Lutremys, and 
Agassiz to Zmys, as restricted by Bonaparte, who regards HZ. europea 
as the type. The figures of Holbrook look very like Cistudo caro- 
lina; but Agassiz, who forms for it a subfamily, describes it as much 
more depressed. It is probably distinct ; but I have never seen an 
American Box Tortoise that could be arranged or confounded, as 
Leconte has done this, with our European Lutremys. It certainly 
is not LZ. Meleagris of Shaw, as Agassiz believes. 
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