66 EMYS FLORIDANA. 



The sternum is oblong, entire in front, and emarginate behind. Tlie gular 

 plates are triangular, a little projecting at their outer angles; the brachial are 

 also triangular, their bases rounded, and their apices truncated and turned 

 inwards; the thoracic, abdominal and femoral plates are large, oblong, and 

 quadrilateral; the sub-caudal are rhomboidal. 



The head is of moderate size; the snout rather obtuse; the nostrils anterior; 

 the eyes prominent, large, and very beautiful; the pupil black; the iris golden, 

 with a black band passing longitudinally through it. The jaws are strong, with 

 their cutting margins entire, without serrae, or teeth; the inferior is very slightly 

 hooked. 



The anterior extremities are large, covered with scales in front, and with 

 scales and granulations behind; there are five fingers, palmated, and each 

 furnished with a stout, strong and nearly straight tail. The posterior extremities 

 are rounded at the thigh, but greatly spread out at the tarsus; the toes are five, 

 fully palmated, four only of them are furnished with nails. The tail is short. 



Colour. The shell is brown, with numerous lines and bands of yellow; those 

 of the vertebral plates run longitudinally; of those on the lateral plates, some 

 radiate, while others descend vertically. All the marginal plates are traversed 

 by vertical bands or lines of the same yellow colour. 



The sternum, as well as the inferior surface of the marginal plates, is pale 

 yellow; the latter have each a black spot, including one of yellow. 



The head and neck are dusky above, and striped with yellow; one very distinct 

 line begins at the snout, runs under the eyes, and terminates at the occiput. 

 The jaws are horn colour; a yellow line begins beloAv the nostrils, and reaches 

 to the angle of the mouth; two others begin back of the orbit, and run to the 

 neck, one above and the other below the tympanum. The throat is cinereous, 

 striped with yellow lines; a broad line begins at the chin, and bifurcates a short 



