REMARKABLE TORTOISE, TESTUDO LOVERIDGII. - . 60? 



a vestigial thorn-like structure, but is more often absent 

 altogether, or represented by a thin ligamentous simulacrum 

 {vide Pis. II. & III.). 



The first pair, which in all tortoises are rudimentary, are 

 normal. The second (first functional) have the free capitular 

 portion sometimes present, although reduced, adherent terminally 

 to the first costal plate, and in contact with the first pair in the 

 usual manner {vide text-fig. 15). Third pair absent or vestigial. 



Fourth pair, when present, similar to the second, but usually as 

 slender as a hair ; in contact with third pair of costal plates. 

 Fifth pair absent or vestigial. Sixth pair like the fourth, but still 

 more vestigial and directed slightly backwards. Seventh pair 

 absent or in some specimens present, and bridging the fenesti'se 

 and meeting the corresponding process of the sixth costal plates, 

 directed slightly backwards. Eighth pair rather depressed, 

 directed still more backwards, in contact with the seventh pair 

 of costal plates just in front of the seventh neural plate. 

 Ninth pair slender, directed strongly backwards and flattening 

 out beneath the head of the eighth costal plates. 



In the young specimen (60 mm. long) described in the next 

 chapter, a tenth pair of ribs are present. 



Pectoral girdle. 

 The bones of the pectoral girdle and fore-limbs, as compared 

 with those of T. ibera, are slender, and the coracoids are not so 

 strongly dilated ; in other respects they are similar {vide Pis. II. 

 & III.). 



Pelvic girdle. 

 The bones of the pelvic girdle and hind-limbs, also compared 

 with those of 2\ ibera, are somewhat more slender and those of 

 the pelvis less dilated {vide Pis. II. & III.). The ilia are not fixed 

 above as in the ordinary tortoises, as they terminate just beneath 

 the last median fenestrse in the carapace, whilst in tortoises with 

 a solid carapace they articulate with a bony prominence beneath 

 the eighth costal plate. 



Development. 



Until April of this year, only adult or extremely young speci- 

 mens were ava,ila,ble, and it was, therefore, only possible to guess 

 at the intermediate skeletal forms. Mr. Lovericlge has, however, 

 now sent over a series of young and half -grown, which illustrate 

 the processes which are taking place and corroborate my earlier 

 speculations. 



Ribs. 

 In the young the ribs are perfectly normal {vide text-figs. 17, 

 18) but step by step they disappear. The portion adherent to 

 the carapace becomes flattened, and disappears in a manner 

 similar to that met with in other members of the genus. The first 

 portion to become completely absorbed is that which underlies 



