366 Miscellaneous. 



figured the bird in question under the old specific name of P. magnijicus, 

 and therefore it became quite unnecessary to i^epcat the description. 



2. That on showing the examples to vay brother ornithologists, 

 they did not agree with my views of the specific distinctions between 

 the specimens from the two localities, but, like Mr. Gould, con- 

 sidered that it w^as the same as the New-Guinea bird, and therefore 

 should not be formed into a separate species ; and it was entirely 

 out of deference to their opinions that I refrained from committing 

 the MS. to press, for which omission I offer no apology. 



The sole object I have in view is to put a statement right which 

 had been, no doubt, inadvertently given by Mr. Elliot incorrectly, 

 and also to express that there have existed, and probably do still 

 exist, doubts as to whether^the Northern- Australian Ptilornis should 

 be regarded as a cUst'mct species, as is shown in the ' Hand-list of 

 Birds.' 



Notes on Australian Freshivater Tortoises. 

 By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S. &c. 



Chelymys Krefftii. 



Thorax oblong, scarcely broader behind, very convex. The 

 second, third, and fourth vertebral shields as long as, or rather 

 longer than broad ; the second and third nearly square, wdth only a 

 slight angle near the middle of each side ; the fourth contracted 

 behind ; the first nearly square, rather broader than long, and 

 rather broader in front. Thorax convex, elevated from the margin, 

 the lateral processes convex. Head large, above olive, with a broad 

 white streak from the back of the orbit to the upper front margin of 

 the tympanum ; a broad white streak from the angle of the mouth to 

 the lower part of the tympanum. Beaks very strong and convex. 

 Upper part of neck slightly granular. 



Hah. Burnett's River. No. 9, Krefft's MS. 



This specimen is coloured very much like the others received 

 from Mr. Krefft, but differs in being oblong and very convex, in- 

 stead of being broadly ovate and much more depressed, and in the 

 form of the vertebral plates. It also differs in having a much 

 larger head, compared with the size of the body. 



It has been suggested that the difference may only be one of sex ; 

 but it is very curious that, out of a large series of specimens, this 

 should be the only one of the sex that has come to us. 



Chelymys australis. 

 Hydraspis australis, Gray, in Grey's 'Australia,' t. vi. 



The specimen of this genus received from Mr. Gould in 1840 as 

 procured in Australasia, and described and figured by me in Capt. 

 Grey's ' Australia,' t. vi., under the name of Hydraspis australis, 

 differs so much, both in its small size, though evidently quite adult, 

 in the form of its dorsal shields, and in the form of its head, from 

 all the species of Chelymys that we have since received, that I am 

 inclined to regard it as a distinct species. 



Hab. Australasia [Gould, 1840). 



