14 CLASS REPTILIA. 



in a pyramidical form. It inhabits the warm parts 

 of North America, destroys many fish and water- 

 fowl, removes occasionally pretty far from rivers, 

 and weighs sometimes above twenty pounds. 



The Sea-Tortoises, or Turtles. Chelonia. 



Brongn.* 



Have their envelopes too small to receive their head, 

 and especially thek feet, which are extremely elon- 

 gated (particularly the fore-feet), flatted into fins, 

 and all the toes are closely united and enveloped in 

 the same membrane. The first two toes of each foot 

 alone have pointed claws, which fall not unfrequently 

 at a certain age. The pieces of their plastron do not 

 form a continuous plate, but are variously denticu- 

 lated, and leave great intervals, which are occupied 

 only by cartilage. The ribs are narrow, and separated 

 one from the other at their external part. Never- 

 theless, the round of the carapace is entirely occupied 

 by a circle of pieces correspondant to the sternal 

 ribs. The temporal foss is covered above by a vault, 

 formed by the parietals, and other bones ; so that the 

 whole head is provided with a continuous osseous 

 casque. The oesophagus is armed throughout, 

 inside, with cartilaginous and sharp points, directed 

 towards the stomach. 



* Chelonia from x''^^'"'- Merrem has preferred the barbarous name of 

 Caretta. 



