Reptiles of Massachusetts. 11 
the interior of the State, for its supposed virtues in 
bruises, sprains, &c. when externally applied. 
The upper shell is of a dark brown color, oval, 
compressed above, composed of five vertebral, eight 
lateral, and twenty-five marginal plates, which are 
marked by radiating and concentric stris. A dorsal 
ridge is produced by the prominent posterior angles 
of the vertebral plates; the projections of the poste- 
rior superior angles of the lateral plates also form, in 
some specimens, indistinct carine. The anterior 
marginal plates are narrow and oblong; the fifth, 
sixth and seventh are much wider, while the poste- 
rior three plates are marked with strong, concentric 
strie, and the posterior angles form strong spinous 
points. The sternum is yellow, narrow, lozenge- 
shaped, composed of ten plates, and united to the 
marginal plates by a long narrow plate, having two 
smaller plates at its outer extremity. The head is 
very large, scaly above ; eyes large; jaws powerful, 
hooked ; beneath the chin, two warts; neck above, 
covered with warts or small fleshy cirrhi; beneath, 
granulated. The legs are large and strong ; the fore 
legs are armed above with large scales, feet with 
five claws; hind legs with large scales beneath, 
feet with four claws. ‘Tail, two thirds the length. 
of the body; round at its base, compressed at the 
sides, tapering to a point; armed above by a ridge 
of strong pointed spines, diminishing towards the 
posterior extremity. 
The largest living specimen 1 have seen, was taken 
at Marshfield ; its dimensions were as follows: En- 
tire length, 44 inches, viz. length of the shell, 18 
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