Dr. J. E. Gray on the Genus Sternotheerus. 169 
Ill. “ Head elongate; upper jaw with a recurved crown, with a 
moderate beak; frontal, two long nasal, and two large pa- 
vietal plates.’ Anota, 
STERNOTHERUS NIGER, Dum. et Bibr. Erp. Gén. ii. p. 597 (not 
t. 20. f. 1, as quoted). 
Hab. Madagascar. 
We have recently received from Western Africa several specimens 
of the genus Kinixys, and they all tend to prove the distinctness of 
the three species in the ‘ Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the British 
Museum,’ viz. 1. K. Belliana; 2. K. erosa; and 3. K. Homeana. 
K. Belliana is easily separated from K. erosa (as well as by other 
characters) by the small size of the gular plates. It would appear 
that this species is common both to West and Eastern Africa, as 
Mr. Whitfield brought it from the Gambia, Dr. Peters found it in 
Mozambique, and Dr. Riippell at Shoa: so also is K. Homeana; for 
Lieut. Friend found it at Cape Coast in West Africa, and Mr. 
Berthold on the east coast of Africa. 
The K. erosa seems to be common in several parts of West Africa. 
It is abundant at the Gaboon, and seemingly not uncommon at the 
Gambia. It is a very variable species, but always to be distinguished 
by the reflexed and strongly dentated posterior margin, and the large 
size of the gular plates. It varies inform. Some specimens are ob- 
long-elongate, narrow, as wide before as behind (that is to say, 
straight on the sides): these, as the older specimens have the 
sternum concave, which we generally consider the peculiarity of 
the male sex, are probably male. Others are ovate, much broader 
compared with their length, and broader behind than before, and the 
sides of the back are more convex: these are probably the shells of 
females. The specimens of both these shapes are varied with yel- 
low on the upper side of the costal plates, and have short irregular 
yellow rays at the outer angle of the costal and vertebral shields ; 
but the distinctness of these coloured rays varies in the different 
specimens. The form of the gular plates also varies ; they are always 
rather large, and the front outer angles are rather produced forward, 
leaving a deep angular notch; but in one specimen, which hasa concave 
sternum, and is probably an old male, they are very much enlarged, 
and produced beyond the upper edge of the thorax. They are longer ~ 
than broad, and truncated in front, so as to present a straight margin 
without any notch, they are as long as the humeral plate at the inner 
side, and the front margin of them is as broad as the length of the 
outer side, which is concavely curved out. There seems, from M. 
Auguste Duméril’s figure, to be only a thorax, without any sternum, 
of this species in the Paris Museum. 
The most natural division of this genus is the following :— 
A. The front lobe of the sternum narrowed and tapering in front, 
with a small truncated pair of gular shields; the sides of the 
margin even; nuchal shield distinct. Kinothorax. 
Kinrxys BELLIANA. 
