486 Mr. Bell on a new Species of Terrapene. 



which is usually considered as characteristic of the male sex : 

 but which is here proved not to be peculiar to it, at least in the 

 subfamily of the box tortoises, as Mr. Sowerby informs me that 

 two eggs were found in the body. 



I have great satisfaction in being able in some measure to con- 

 firm the observations which I made in the last number of the 

 Zoological Journal, respecting the distinct specific characters of 

 the three species of Terrapene, previously confounded under the 

 trivial name Clausa. I have now living a specimen of T. maculuta 

 and one of T. Carolina, which, while they retain the essential dis- 

 tinctions in the shell pointed out in the paper on the Box I'or- 

 toises, exemplify an equal difference in the markings and colours, 

 as well as even in some measure in the structure and habits of the 

 animals. In T. maculata the head, neck, and fore feet are of a 

 bright scarlet spotted with black, and it is certainly one of the 

 most shewy and beautiful animals of the order. The head is 

 much larger, and the upper mandible more hooked, and projects 

 farther beyond the under than in T. Carolina. The iris is of a 

 brilliant scarlet with an inner rim of bright yellow, the two 

 colours radiating as it were into each other ; the pupil black. 



In T. Carolina on the other hand the general colour of the head 

 and feet is a dull orange, obscurely marked with brown. The 

 iris in this species is also scarlet, but of a deep hue and without 

 the yellow ring. It is much more bold and active than the former, 

 feeding readily on meat; and I have known it even in its present 

 unnatural and semidomestic state, attempt to pursue a frog round 

 the room ; which is quite consistent with the habits assigned to it 

 by Shaw. Edwards's description, which is very correct and com- 

 plete, can only refer to this species, which leads me to believe 

 that he was unacquainted with T. maculata and T, nebulosa. 



