1888.] ON A NEW LAND-TORTOISE FROM SOUTH AFRICA. 251 



2. Description of a new Land-Tortoise from South Africa, 

 from a Specimen living in the Society's Gardens. By 



G. A. BoULENGER, F.Z.S. 



[Eeeeived April 6, 1888-1 



(Plate XIV.) 



The following is a description of a new species of the genus 

 Ilomopus, three (female) specimens of which have been presented 

 to tlie Society by the Rev. G. II. R. Fisk, C.M.Z.S. They were 

 ol)tained at Cradock. In a letter to the Secretary and in one to me, 

 Mr. Fisk drew attention to differences shown by these specimens as 

 compared to those of the neighbourhood of the Cape. These 

 differences indicate unquestionably a distinct species, which I propose 

 to name 



HoMOPUS FEMORALis, sp. nov. (Plate XIV.) 



Shell more than twice as long as deep, flat on the vertebral region, 

 posterior margin reverted and serrated. Dorsal shields not swollen, 

 concentrically striated, separated by deep grooves ; areolae not or 

 but feebly impressed; vertebral shields as broad as or a little 

 narrower than the costals ; nuchal small, longer than broad. Plastron 

 and plastral shields as in H. areolatus. A pair of large prsefrontal 

 shields, followed by a large frontal ; beak feebly hooked ; lower jaw 

 narrower tlian in H. areolatus. Fore limb anteriorly covered with 

 very large, imbricate, pointed tubercles, one of which, on the inner 

 side near the elbow, is movable at right angles to the others; a very 

 large conical tubercle on the hinder side of the thigh. Pale brown 

 above, each shield narrowly edged with black in front and on the 

 sides ; plastral shields yellow, brown anteriorly. Shielded or 

 tuberculate soft parts pale brownish, naked parts orange. 



Length of shell 13 centim. 



This Tortoise differs from both H. areolatus and H. signatus in 

 the larger size and the feebly hooked upper jaw : from the former in 

 the serrated posterior margin of the carapace and in the spur-like 

 tubercle on the back of the thigh ; and from the latter by the small 

 inguinal shield, which is widely separated from the femoral shield, 

 the presence of large prsefrontal and frontal shields, and the absence 

 of the fifth claw in the hand. 



For my knowledge of the animal of H. signatus, only the shell 

 of which was known, I am indebted to Mr. Peringuey, who has 

 recently brought to the British Museum two specimens obtained by 

 him in Damaraland. Although provided with 5-4 claws, H. signatus 

 must none the less be referred to the genus Ilomopus, on account of 

 the absence of a median alveolar ridge in the upper jaw. Testudo 

 horsjieldi, on the other hand, is, in spite of its 4-4 claws, a true 

 Testudo. 



