TESTUDO POLYPHEMUS. 27 



extensive in the transverse direction. Of the supplemental plates, the axillary- 

 are oblong, and the inguinal, semicircular in shape. 



The head is short, thick, obtuse, and covered with small plates on the superior 

 parts, and with larger plates in front, which are disposed in rows; one, between 

 the anterior parts of the orbit, consisting of two very large central plates and two 

 external, smaller. In front of this is a second row of six smaller plates, and still 

 anterior to this row are others of smaller size. The nostrils are small and near 

 together. The eyes are large and open; the iris dark; the pupil almost black; 

 the lower lid more extensive than the upper, and both covered with small plates. 

 The jaws are covered with horny plates, grooved, and having their margins 

 serrated: the grooves allow the jaws to be received reciprocally within each other 

 when the mouth is closed. The neck is short, and the skin granulated. 



The anterior extremities are very large, thick, compressed in the antero- 

 posterior direction, and terminating in five fingers, each furnished with a thick 

 and strong nail; along the outer margin of the forearm is a row of projecting 

 horny points, resembling nails, large below, and decreasing gradually in size to 

 the humerus. Another remarkably large horny tubercle exists near the internal 

 and anterior part of the elbow. The anterior surface of the forearm and carpus 

 is covered with large plates; the posterior surface of the carpus and lower 

 portion of the forearm with smaller plates; in other parts, the forearm and arm 

 are granulated. 



The posterior extremities are rounded, less compressed, short, thick and clavate, 

 ending in four toes, each furnished with a strong nail. The sole of the foot, the 

 lower and posterior part of the leg, and the posterior part of the thighs, are pro- 

 tected by large plates; two remarkably horny points are placed at the posterior 

 and superior part of the thigh; the other parts of the posterior extremities are 

 granulated, and covered with smaller plates. 



Colours. The general colour of the shell is brownish-yellow, clouded at times 



