COLOSSOCHELYS ATLAS. 381 



detected in the collection of the scapular arch, although they 

 will in all probability be found yet to give direct evidence as 

 to its build. 



The humerus was of large size, its estimated length being 

 28 to 30 inches ; but it corresponded exactly with that of the 

 existmg Tortoise in its singular ciu-ve, globular head, large 

 size of inner tuberosity, and foramen for the brachial nerve 

 at lower end. The concentric arrangement of the corpuscles 

 of Eetzius round the Haversian canals seen in the ungual 

 bones of the toes is a certain mark of a reptilian. 



V. — Description by Dr. Falconer of Fossil Eemains of Colossochelys 



AND TeSTUDO in THE MuSEUM OF THE ASIATIC SoCIETY OF BENGAL. 



[The catalogue contains numerous references to remains of the Colos- 

 sochelys: — from Ava, Nos. 196, 241 ; from the Sewalik hills, Nos. 654 

 to 674, and Nos. 860 to 863 ; and from Perim Island, Nos. 98 and 112. 



The chief of these is the following, supposed to be from the Sewalik 

 hills.— Ed.] :— 



No. 654. Colossochelys Atlas. — Fine fragment, comprising the anterior 

 portion of the thickened episternum (of the plastron) ; it is bifid at the 

 apex, behind which it is contracted and supplied underneath with a 

 thick cuneiform keel. No portion of the thin part of the bone near the 

 entosternum is present ; the specimen is tinged black, highly infiltrated 

 with iron, and crusted over with a thin coat of gritty sandstone like 

 some of the Ava specimens ; but it bears no mark. The tip of the left- 

 bifurcation is broken off; the right is entire. 



. Inches 

 Length of fragment ......... 16- 



Ditto of thick portion of episternum, to tip of bifurcation . . 13" 

 Width of thickened part behind bifurcation .... 6'5 



Greatest thickness ......... 5'1 



Col. Colvin is stated (Journ. A. S., v. p. 184) to have presented to the 

 Society some huge fragment of this gigantic Tortoise, but the specimen 

 in mineral condition is unlike the generality of the Sewalik fossils. 

 It may be from Ava (Col. Burney), as Dr. F. found numerous frag- 

 ments of the gigantic Tortoise among the specimens presented to the 

 Geolog. Soc. by Mr. Crawfurd. This episternum is not of a full-sized 

 animal, Dr. F. having met with it 6^ in. thick with a diam. of 8 in. at 

 the contracted part. 



[The description of a specimen of fossil Testudo in the same collection, 

 also from the Sewalik hills, is also worth quoting. — Ed.] 



No. 675. Testudo. — Left side of plastron comprising the episternal, 

 entosternal, and mesosternal, separated along the median suture. 

 Episternum thick and overarching the entosternal, in form and markings 

 very much like Testudo stellata. This was a small Land-Tortoise, 

 having no connection with the Colossochelys, and probably a young 

 animal, judging from the openness of the sutures. 



