56 EMYS RUBRIVENTRIS. 



angle greatly elongated; all the other plates are regularly quadi'ilateral, those over 

 the thighs broadest; the posterior and external angle of the ninth projects very 

 slightly beyond the tenth, which in turn extends as little beyond the eleventh. 



The sternum is oblong, entire in front, but emarginate behind. The gular plates 

 are triangular, with their apices turned backwards; the brachial are also triangu- 

 lar, with rounded bases externally, their apices truncate, and directed inwards; 

 the thoracic are quadrilateral; the abdommal broad and pentagonal; the femoral 

 are irregularly quadrilateral, with their narrowest border directed internally, and 

 their posterior and external borders projecting beyond the sub-caudal plates, which 

 are triangular, with their bases rounded and directed backwards. Of the supple- 

 mental plates, the femoral are trapezoid in shape, prolonged and pomted anteriorly; 

 the axillary are irregularly triangular and largest in front. 



The head is of moderate size, a little enlarged posteriorly, and slightly pointed 

 at the snout; the jaws are strong, the upper so deeply emarginate as to present 

 the appearance of having two teeth. The inferior is serrated at the sides, and 

 has three teeth in front, of which the middle or hook, is most prominent, as if 

 made to pass into the deep notch of the upper jaw. The eyes arc large and 

 prominent; the pupil black; the iris pale golden, with a black band passing 

 lonsitudinallv throu2;h it. 



The anterior extremities are rather long, and covered with transverse rows of 

 scales in front, and with scales and granulations behind; there are five fingers, 

 palmated with five short, slightly curved nails. The posterior extremities are 

 round at the thighs, but much flattened towards the tarsus; the toes are five, and 

 fully pahnated, but only four of them are furnished vnih nails. The tail is short, 

 and large at its base, but becomes suddenly pointed. 



Colour. The shell is dusky brown, marked with blotches or confluent spots, 

 and irregular bands or lines of red; each marginal plate has a line of the same 

 colour passing vertically through it. 



