TESTUDO SEMISERRATA.— Smith. 



Reptilia. — Plate V. 



T. supra brunneo-nigra ; scutarum areolis et radiis ab illis divergentibus, subochreis ; infra flavS radiis 

 brunneo-nigris variegatis. Scuto nuchale triangulare; pedibus anterioribus paulum supra ungues 

 antice squamis magnis tuberculosis obtcctis ; mandibula superiore uncinata. 



Longitudo testse 5 unc. 



Colour. — Shell above deep reddish or brownish black, with numerous 

 ochrey or brownish yellow variegations, which are partly in the form of 

 irregular blotches and partly of radii, the breadth of which is greatest at the 

 margins of the plates. On the dorsal and costal plates, the areolae are princi- 

 pally of a yellowish tinge, and from each ten or more yellow radii diverge and 

 terminate by joining others of a similar description which intersect the sur- 

 rounding plates. In the last-named plates one radiation generally proceeds 

 from the anterior and another from the posterior edge of each, while three or four 

 extend from the lateral sides, and those from the parts first mentioned, together 

 with one from each of the lateral angles, generally divide into two limbs before 

 they reach the margins of the plates, and by this arrangement several oblong 

 black spots appear inclosed within these radii. The marginal plates are gene- 

 rally marked with three radii, the hindermost in many instances bifid prior to 

 its joining the costal plates. Nuchal plate broadly edged and tipt with yellow. 

 Beneath, the shell is yellow variegated with brownish black radii, each of which 

 proceeds from the areolae, when they exist, and increase in width as they 

 approach the circumference of the plates ; their direction is either straight or 

 oblique, and from the manner in which they join each other, the under-surface 

 of the shell appears varied with waved, angular or arched black stripes. Upper 

 and under mandibles greenish yellow. Eyes dusky black. The scales of the 

 head are a pale straw yellow, those of the neck greenish brown ; the legs 

 pale yellowish brown, with the large tubercular scales of the fore-legs and 

 the discs of the small flat scales of all the legs dull yellow ; claws yellowish. 

 Tail dull greenish brown. 



Form, &c. — Shell oblong ovate and above moderately convex ; its lateral 

 outline as formed by the marginal plates is rather strongly serrated in front 

 and behind, on the sides but slightly ; its dorsal outline strongly arched 

 towards the nuchal and caudal plates, slightly along the middle of the back. 

 The surface of the shell above the lateral margins uneven, but none of the 

 plates palpably projecting, as is the case in Testudo geometrica, T. tentoria, 

 &c. ; areolse smooth and slightly depressed, the other parts of the plates rough 



