52 EMYSMEGACEPHALA. 



triangle directed downwards; the brachial plates are irregularly quadrilateral, with 

 the external and posterior angle prolonged; the thoracic are quadrilateral, exten- 

 sive in the transverse, and narrow in the antero-posterior direction; the abdominal 

 plates are hexagonal and broad; the femoral, irregularly quadrilateral, broad and 

 rounded externally, narrow and straight within; the subcaudal plates are very 

 irregularly quadrilateral, their outer and posterior angles rounded. Of the supple- 

 mental plates, the axillary is triangular, with its external and posterior angle 

 truncated; the inguinal is regularly triangular. 



The head is extremely large, narrow before, very broad behind and prominent 

 above, from the elongated occipital process, placed on a short thick neck; the 

 snout is rather pointed. The nostrils are in front, and near each other. The 

 eyes are large and prominent, placed near the snout; the pupil is dark, and the 

 iris golden. The upper and lower jaw have their cutting margins entire. 



The anterior extremities are short, with transverse rows of large scales on the 

 anterior part, and a very remarkable row on the posterior surface, above the carpus; 

 a range of large fleshy folds extends along the superior border of the forearm 

 to the humerus; the fingers are five in number, each furnished with a short curved 

 nail. The posterior extremities are long, flattened, and covered with scales, ending 

 in five toes broadly palmated, and furnished with four nails. The tail is small, 

 minutely carinated, and pointed. 



Colours. The shell is very dark brown, with a tinge of green, only perceptible 

 in a strong light, and margined with a border of obscure yellowish brown. The 

 lateral and marginal plates are marked with indistinct anastomosing lines of 

 brownish orange; the inferior surface of the latter, with longitudinal lines of obscure 

 white. The sternum is of a dingy yellow colour; the wings and supplemental 

 plates marked with waving brownish fines. 



The head and neck are browTi, with a strong tinge of green; the jaws are 

 yellowish brown; a longitudinal line of greenish-yellow begins at the snout, and 



