BEPTILKS OF BBITISU BIRMA. 



breadth of the thorax, and length of the sternuai — the measure- 

 ments taken round the curves in inches and decimals. 



a. Adult male . . irV5 I. Adult female . . . 11-60 

 9-40 1000 



7-00 <5"^0 



Both these specimens are from Tonghu, and aged; but the 

 species occurs a trifle larger. The shell of the male is con- 

 siderably expanded in its pelvic diameter, and narrow m front. 

 In the female the sides are more parallel. The young are more 



globose. 



c. Young female ^'^^ 



4-90 

 3-40 

 The umbilical foramen (unossified) was rhonaboidal, and half 

 an inch across. This species is very common in Pegu and Tenas- 

 serim ; specimens, however, Irom Pegu do not usually attain the 

 size of some from the southern provinces. Gimther gives 13 

 inches as the limit (it not being stated if this measurement is m 

 a straight line, or round the curve of the shell), whilst m Pegu I 

 have never measured any shell of more than 12 "^ches. This 

 species displays the curious habit (first recorded by Capt. i. 

 Hutton in .the case of T. elcgans) of butting an opponent 

 ^4ien two animals happen to meet; and the nuchal margin of 

 the shell, in old animals, is frequently much chipped m conse- 

 quence. 

 T PLATYNOTUS, Blyth (J. A. S. 1863). 



This species is closely allied to T. elcgans, of which it may be 

 cither regarded as a well-marked local race, or rather, I think, as 

 its representative in Pegu. It differs from the Indian species in 

 being uniformly larger, and in having the top of the shell very 

 flat--in many cases remarkably so, though individuals occur 

 abnormally arched. Colour black, finely yellow-rayed ; the first 

 vertebral and last costal plates 5-rayed, the last vertebra and 

 first costals 7-rayed. Tail ending in a spinal scale. ^ Pupil large, 

 dark, with a narrow brown iris. Head yellow, with one large 

 vertical and two large occipital scales. The other scales small, 

 irregular, and polygonal. Jaws dark, tridentate m fron . Speci- 

 mens do not often exceed 10-50, measured m a straight line 



The young are much more arched, and devoid of the flattened 

 back, so characteristic of the adult. 



