ORDER CHELONIA. 71 



tortoise, with the anterior lobe of the sternum moveable, 

 and capable of closing the shell as completely as in any 

 species of the fresh-water box tortoises. This unexpected 

 peculiarity appeared sufficiently important to Mr. Bell to 

 merit the distinct generic appellation of Pyxis. 



Emys is the scientific designation of those tortoises which 

 live habitually in the fresh-water. Their feet are mobile 

 and palmated, their jaws horny, and beak trenchant. The 

 tail is generally short, and the carapace scaly and solid, as is 

 also the sternum, which is broad. 



The body is naked, or covered with papillae and scales ; 

 the head scaly, or naked, is concealed under the carapace, 

 or on its sides. The jaws are most usually entire, and the 

 upper covers the lower like a box. The neck is usually 

 naked and rounded ; the carapace is generally convex, and 

 the claws are pointed. 



Most part of the reptiles of this genus live in marshes, 

 and especially inhabit hot climates, where they live on plants 

 and mollusca. 



The word Emys is derived from the Greek i/^uV, which sig- 

 nifies tortoise. 



The species of this genus are numerous — they are properly 

 divided into two sections. The first has the sternum or 

 plastron immoveable and angular. 



The first species is the Speckled Tortoise of Shaw, Avhich 

 might more properly be designated the European fresh- 

 water tortoise. Emys Europcea, Testiido orbicularis, Lin- 

 naeus. Testudo lutaria, Hermann, Marsigli, Brunnich. 

 Testudojlava, Bonnat. Daudin, &c. 



This tortoise is rather of a small size, the shell being about 

 four or five inches in length, though sometimes it is eight 

 long and four broad. The carapace is oval, very little con- 

 vex, rather smooth, blackish, and marked with yellowish 

 points disposed in rays. The plastron, or under plate, is as 



