930 MR, A. loveridge: notes on 



CUELONIDiE. 

 OllELONE MYDAS Lilin. 



Blgr. Cat. Chel. 1889, p. 180. 

 A carapace was obtained from fishermen at Dar es Snlaam in 

 1922 ; these turtles are caught fairly frequently. A live one was 

 seen alongside the ship in Tanga Harbour (27. v, 2o) ; it thrust 

 its head out of the water close alongside us, and could be seen 

 to advantage as it swam about. 



Pelomedusidje. 

 PelusioS NIGRICANS (Donnd.). 



Blgr. Cat. Chel. 1889, p. 195. 

 Three specimens from the Ruaha, Ivilosa, and Kissaki in 

 Dpiloma District. These were adult, half-grown, and immature 

 respectively, the smallest measuring 47 X 40 x 13 mm. 



Pblomedusa galeata (Schoepff). 

 Blgr. Cat. Chel. 1889, p. 197. 



Ten specimens from Dodoma, Mahaka, Kilamatinde, Mtali's, 

 and Luguo. 



Of these the largest male weighed 2 lbs. and measured 200 x 

 135 x 68 mm., the largest female 142 x 112 x 29 mm., and a very 

 young one fx'om Mahaka on 10. iii. 22, measured 49 x 39 x 18 mm. 



After two heavy rainstorms on the two preceding days, which 

 heralded the advent of the rainy season, a F. galeata was found 

 at 8.15 a.m. busily engaged in trying to dig itself into the middle' 

 of a sandy road. The rains had doubtless disturbed it and 

 caused it to wander. (Mtali's, 20. x. 21). 



My wife reported having seen a Lesser Stink Ant {Paltothyreus 

 iarsai'us), which had fallen into the wnter-tanlr, seized by one of 

 these tortoises. This is remarkable, as the ant has a formidnblo 

 sting, as well as good jaws and a protective smell. We therefore 

 experimentally introduced three more, which were taken without 

 hesitation by the tortoises, who snapped them in half. The head 

 and thorax were first crunched up and then the abdomen picked 

 up and eaten. Grasshoppers and spiders were also taken, one of 

 the latter being warningly coloured in black and yellow. 



A Key to the Tortoises op Tanganyika Territory, Kenya 

 Colony, and Uganda. 



Synopsis of the Families. 

 I. Shell covered with epidcnnal, horny shields. 

 A. Pectoral shields of plastron in contact with the marginals. 



1. Plastral shields 11 or 13 Testudinid^. 



2. Plastral shields 12a8 intergular present PELOMiiuUBiDJi:. 



IJ. Pectoral shields widely separated from the marginals; 



limbs paddle-shaped, with one or two claws Cuei.onid^. 



11. Shell without epidermal shields Tkionicuid^. 



