30 TESTUDO POLYPHEMUS. 



In the twelfth edition, Linnaeus quotes in addition Gronovius,* "Testudo 

 pedibus digitalis," &c., which description agrees better with the Box Tortoise 

 than w ith the Gopher; and it is not improbable that Gronovius received it from 

 Clayton, of Virginia, with whom he was in constant correspondence. Why 

 LinnaBus should have given an additional reference to Seba,t at the same time 

 retaining the reference to Edwards, is not known; especially as Seba's plate 

 bears no resemblance to that of Edwards, being a larger animal and drawn with 

 a tail. 



Gmelin, in his edition of the Systema Natura;, besides retaining the description 

 and reference of Linnneus, adds a longer description of his own; and here, 

 perhaps, Leconte is right, in supposing that he (Gmelin) may have had our 

 animal in view, as the description corresponds more nearly with it, and cannot 

 be applied to the Box Tortoise. Still, however, the name Carolina could not be 

 retained, as it has been previously applied by Linnaeus to another species. 



* Gron. Zooph. 1 7. n. 1 7. f Seba, Mus. i. t. SO. f. 1 . 



