428 dr. j. e. gray on the bradypodidjE. [May 2, 



by Theobald to T. indica. I am enabled to make this identification 

 because Blyth has given such accurate measurements and descrip- 

 tions of this specimen that it is impossible to mistake it for any 

 other species. In describing the type he refers to another specimen 

 smaller than it and having the appearance of great age, with most 

 of the plates of its carapace more or less completely united, so that 

 the form of some of them cannot be traced. This is the specimen 

 referred by Theobald to Manouria emys in his catalogue, and is the 

 one bearing the names of the sternal plates in the handwriting of 

 Dr. Falconer. This specimen can hardly be said to be in fragments, 

 as the carapace is entire with the exception of a small portion which 

 has been broken off the anterior margin. The sternum, also, is 

 nearly perfect, as shown in my drawing, although it wants the dermal 

 plates. The skull and the remainder of the skeleton, however, are 

 absent. It is interesting to observe that all the dermal plates, with 

 the exception of those which Blyth described as being more or less 

 completely united, have disappeared, and that these seem to have 

 remained adherent to the carapace, owing to their being united into 

 a mass which retained a firm hold of it. In connexion with this 

 disappearance of the dermal plates, I would also observe that this 

 specimen generally has a decided appearance of having been par- 

 tially macerated, but not to any great extent. 



It is evident, from what I have stated regarding the notes in his 

 own handwriting on this specimen, that it had been in the posses- 

 sion of Dr. Falconer. The explanation appears to be that Mr. 

 Blyth gave Dr. Falconer the less valuable specimen for his observa- 

 tions. Having seen the disputed skull in London, my impression is 

 that it is that of T. phayrei, and that Mr. Theobald's account of its 

 history is strictly accurate. 



The type is a stuffed specimen and in capital condition. Like 

 the other stuffed Tortoises in this museum, however, no wires were 

 employed in mounting it, so that the circumstance that the skull of 

 so-called Scapia falconeri has no wire-holes does not indicate much. 



k Notes on the Species of Bradypodidce in the British 

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



[Eeceived April 6, 1871.] 



(Plates XXXV.-XXXVII.) 



Having received various specimens of this family in the British Mu- 

 seum from Mr. Carmiol, from Costa Rica, as the type of Dr. Peters's 

 new species Choloepus hoffmanni, and specimens of Arctopithecus 

 from the Cordillera del Chucn, Veragua, in Costa Rica, and from Dr. 

 Seemann from Nicaragua and from other parts of South America, I 

 have been induced to compare them and to send to the Society the 

 following notes as a result of my observations. Dr. Seemann and 



