124 BULLETIN OF THE 



is very convex forward. Upper jaw without serrations, lower outline forming 

 a sigmoid curve, convex posteriorly, and concave near the extremity, where it 

 suddenly descends to the sharp point at the symphysis. The greatest con- 

 vexity occurs at a point below and in front of the eye. Lower jaw strong, 

 without serrations, upper edge concave, curving upward in a point on the 

 symphysis. Frontals, two pairs. Vertical small, narrow, hexangular. Two 

 supraorbitals on each side. Interparietal large, broad, surrounded by thirteen 

 plates (9-13). Postorbitals, three, upper small, lower narrow, elongate. Cara- 

 pace with little or no indication of a hump on the first or ultimate vertebral 

 plates, outline slightly straightened over the hind legs, indented over neck and 

 arms, with five shields in each series of costals and the vertebral. Anterior 

 vertebral shield short and narrow, second to fourth narrow and long, posterior 

 longer and wider. First pair of costals small. Marginal plates, twenty-seven, 

 anterior very narrow, becoming wide on the flanks from the fourth. From the 

 middle of the body back the marginal shields are subequal, excepting the 

 caudal pair, which are wider, but without being produced beyond the general 

 outline. Eight or ten of the posterior marginal bones of the skeleton are 

 joined by suture to the broad costals, making for the hinder half of the cara- 

 pace nearly solid bone. Paddles medium, each with two nails, anterior long 

 and narrow, posterior short and broad, margins indented between the digits. 



In one specimen the width and length are equal, twenty-six inches ; in the 

 other, the width is twenty-nine inches, while the length is only twenty-eight. 

 Both are quite aged, as is shown by the ossification of skull and carapace, and 

 by the worn appearance of jaws and scales. 



Distinguished from T. caouana by the short, round body, low humps, mar- 

 ginal plates, narrowness of head across occiput, and swollen jaws ; from 

 T. olivacea by shape of head, swollen jaw, and plates of the carapace. The 

 compression of the anterior portion of the head of T. olivacea at once separates 

 the species. 



" The Bastard Turtle are common. We know that they come on the beach 

 to lay in the months of December, January, and February, but cannot tell how 

 often, or how many eggs they lay at a time. They can be secured quite readily, 

 but are not sought for. Hawksbill, Loggerhead, and Green Turtle lay in 

 April, May, and June." (Kemp.) 



Some of the characters by which this turtle is distinguished from caouana 

 and olivacea are of more than specific importance, — namely, shape of head 

 and body, and skeletal peculiarities. According them a subgeneric value, the 

 habitat suggests the name Colpochelys, from koKttos, a gulf. This will give to 

 this species the name Colpochelys Kempii, Kemp's Gulf Turtle. 



Chelonia depressa sp. nov. 



Young. — Body a broad oval ; head large, rounded posteriorly, occiput 

 convex, flattened between and compressed in front of the eyes. Jaws not ser- 

 rate (in very young), upper with a shallow notch in front, lower with a sharp 



