EMYS FLORIDANA. 



67 



distance from its originj a second, narrower and shorter, line is included in the 

 bifurcation, and others are situated on the outer side of it. 



The anterior extremities are dark above, with cuticular folds along the outer 

 margin, tinged with pale yellow; the inferior surface is rather lighter and marked 

 with longitudinal bands of a pale yellow. The anterior extremities are dark 

 above and striped with pale yellow bands, both above and below. The tail is 

 striped with pale yellow above, and is dirty yellow below. 



DiJiENsioNs. Length of shell, 15 inches; greatest breadth, 10 inches; length of 

 sternum, 14 inches; elevation, 7i inches. 



Habits. The Emys floridana inhabits rivers and lakes of fresh water, but of 

 its food I am ignorant. 



Geographical Distribution. As yet, this animal has been found only in East 

 Florida. It is common in the St. John's river, from whence I have received a 

 good many specimens. 



General Remarks. The Emys floridana is the largest of the genus with 

 which I am acquainted; this beautiful animal was first observed by Leconte in 

 Florida, who gave an excellent description of it in his Monograph on the North 

 American Tortoises. I am gratified in being able to give very accurate drawings 

 of the four last species of Emys; the more so, because Harlan and some other 

 naturalists have thought them not sufficiently distinct. Harlan* says he has not 

 been able to distinguish the Emys serrata from the Emys reticulata, Emys 

 scripta, Emys rubriventris, and Emys decussata; nor the Emys floridana from the 

 Emys rubriventris; and yet they are all perfectly distinct species, as above 

 described. 



* Med. and Phj^s. Res., p. 155. 



