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XII. Observations on some rare Reptiles and a Batrarhian notv or lately living in the 

 Society s Menagerie. By Dr. Albert Guntiier, F.E.S., V.P.Z.S. 



Received December 7th, read December 14th, 1880. 



[Plates XLII. to XLVI.] 



Chelts fimbriata (Schneid.). (Plate XLIT.) 



IHE Matamata is an inhabitant of stagnant waters of Brazil and Guyana. The 

 adaptation of almost every part of this extraordinary creature for its aquatic life, 

 and for the purpose of concealment, is perfect. When this Turtle rests on the 

 surface of the water, or lies half buried at the bottom in the sand, the broad, flat 

 shell with three rough ridges resembles a stone, which by other animals will be 

 readily taken as a place of refuge or rest. The neck is long, broad, and flat, inca- 

 pable of being retracted within the shell, but can be bent backwards on the right 

 side of the animal. Its sides bear a fringe of broad, dentated tentacles, floating in 

 the water like some vegetable growth. The flat triangular upper surface of the 

 head is enlarged by a skinny postero-lateral lappet overhanging the large tympanum, 

 and terminates in front in a thin flexible proboscis. This enables the animal to 

 breathe without raising the whole head and thus making the ripple on the surface 

 of the water by which other freshwater Turtles betray their presence. The eyes are 

 very small, though clear and perfectly developed. The cleft of the mouth is wide ; 

 but the jaws with their homy covei'ing are narrow, feeble, and remarkably flexible. 



Naturalists and travellers have left us, singularly enough, very much in the dark as 

 regards the habits of this singular creature. Bruguieres tells us that it is eagerly 

 sought for by the Indians for food, that it feeds on the plants growing near the water's 

 edge, and that he has kept one for some time alive on herbs and bread. As regards 

 its diet, Bruguieres probably was mistaken. Schomburgk (Reis. Brit. Guiana, i. p. 326) 

 speaks in words of the utmost disgust of its appearance and intolerable smell. He 

 found it rather frequent on the sandbanks of the river Takutu (ii. p. 29), generally 

 half hidden in the sand in shallow water which barely covered the animal, motionless, 

 and apparently watching for its prey. Without an attempt to escape and without any 

 struggle the Turtles allow themselves to be taken. Schomburgk confirms that they are 

 eaten by the Indians (iii. p. 647). 



The specimens which are at present in the Menagerie of the Society fully bear out 

 Schomburgk's observations as regards the extreme sluggishness of the animal, and the 

 penetrating smell, which, after handling them for a short time only, adheres to the 

 hand for nearly twenty-four hours, and resembles the musky smell of the Alligator. 



VOL. XI. — PART vii. No. I.— October, 1882. 2l 



