NO. 1181. NEW SPECIES OF TORTOISES— HAY. 23 



The pectoral slvields are extremely narrow in the middle line, but they 

 widen right and left. The suture between the right and the left abdom- 

 inal shields is very long, being contained in the length of the plastron 

 only two and one-half times. There is present on each side an evident 

 inguinal shield, and there were probably axillary shields, but they can 

 not be demonstrated. I am not able to determine with certainty the 

 jiosition of the suture between the marginal shields and those of the 

 plastron. In Testudo and its immediate allies this suture is well up on 

 the marginal bones. In other genera, as Oeomycla and Clemmys, it is 

 located near the outer border of the plastral bones. In H. schucherti 

 the suture between the pectorals and the abdominals gives off, near the 

 outer border of the hyoplastron, what seems plainly to be a branch 

 which is directed forward. This branch seems to me to be the anterior 

 end of the suture between the plastral and tlie marginal shields. If such 

 it is, it is quite different in position from that of species of Testudo. In 

 the type of Hadriamts, a large and quite perfect shell, the sutures 

 between the epidermal shields are very deep and distinct, but the 

 sutures between the bones are usually very obscure. Nevertheless, I 

 believe that here too the epidermal suture referred to lies on the plas- 

 tral bones. 



The second species of turtle to be described comes from coal-bearing 

 strata of Miocene age. The particular locality is mine l^o. 4, near 

 Eoslyn, Washington. This town is located in Kittitass County, at the 

 eastern base of the Cascade range of mountains. The deposit in which 

 the turtle was found is known as the Eoslyn sandstone. The preser- 

 vation of the fine specimen is due to the intelligent interest of Mr. P. Y. 

 Heckman, of Eoslyn, from whom it was obtained for the U. S. ISTational 

 Museum. The Museum is indebted to Dr. F. H. Knowlton for his 

 friendly offices in securing this species. 



The specimen displays only the upper surface of the shell; but this 

 is almost entire and almost uninjured. It is probable that the plastron 

 is also present, but the matrix is so refractory that it has been thought 

 best not to attempt to remove it. After a careful study of the carapace 

 I have been unable to assign it to any of the described genera of Testu- 

 dines. I therefore venture to proj)ose a new genus for its reception. 

 The sj)eciflc name I derive from the collector of the specimen. The 

 name of this new form is 



ACHERONTEMYS HECKMANI. 



Generic characters. — Carapace broad, rather depressed. IsTeural 

 bones about as broad as long; mostly hexagonal, with the anterolateral 

 sides much shorter than the postero lateral. A single very broad pygal. 

 Marginals 23 in number, coinciding with the outer ends of the cos- 

 tals, instead of alternating with them. Vertebral shields very broad. 



l!^ame derived from Acheroti, a river of the fabled lower world, and 

 emys, a turtle. 



Specific characters. — Carapace broad, rounded in front and behind. 



