1882.] DR. A. GUNTHER ON A NRW TORTOISE. 343 



colours, the male seemed to liave the lazuline blue of the throat 

 carried entirely over the breast, instead of being confined to the 

 throat. 



Mr. Sclater laid before the Meeting the skins of the two specimens 

 of the Subcylindrical Hornbill (Buceros subcylindricns), which had 

 been formerly living in the Society's Glardens', and stated that a re- 

 examination of these specimens had confirmed his opinion as to the 

 validity of the species. In the second specimen, which had died on 

 the 9th June 1881, although the tail was imperfect, it was manifest 

 that the two central tail-feathers were black almost to their tips as 

 in the first specimen ; and the well-defined ashy margins of the 

 feathers on both sides of the head were alike in both examples. It 

 was likewise of great interest to find that an example of this Hornbill 

 had been recently received by the Imperial Museum of Vienna- in 

 a collection made by Dr. Emin Bey between Lado and the Albert 

 Nyanza in Central Africa, so that we were now acquainted with the 

 true locality of this rare species. 



Mr. Sclater proposed to arrange for the deposit of these typical 

 specimens in the British Museum. 



The following papers were read 



1. Description of a new Species of Tortoise {Geoemyda 

 inipressa) from Siam. By Dr. A. Gunther, V.P.Z.S. 



[Eeceivecl March 20, 1882.] 



The British Museum has received from Siam the shell of a fresh 

 water Turtle without any other part of the animal, which seems to be 

 undescribed. It is 11 inches long; and sufficiently resembles the 

 shells of Geoetnyda spinosa and G. grandis to warrant the supposition 

 that this species belongs to the same genus. It may be named 

 Geoemxjda impressa, from the peculiar shape of the. principal upper 

 })lates, which are not merely flat, but distinctly concave. 



The shell is much depressed and broadly flattened above. Its 

 anterior margin is deeply excised in front of the nuchal plate, and 

 serrated ; also the lateral marginals project slightly at their posterior 

 corners, and the hind margin is deeply and regularly serrated. The 

 plates are nearly smooth ; but concentric striation is distinct, espe- 

 cially on the costals. Of a vertebral keel the faintest possible trace 

 is visible on the fourth or fifth vertebral. The sternum is excised 

 in front, and deeply notched behind ; its width between the front 



' See P.Z. S. 1870, p. G68, pi. xxxix. ; 1871, p. 489, and 1879, p. 550. 

 - Cf. Von Pelzeln, " Ueber eine Sendung von Vcigelii aus Central-Afrika," 

 Verh. k.-k. zool.-bot. Gesellsch. Wien, 1881, p. 153. 



