EMYS GEOGRAPHICA. 



101 



Colours. The shell is very dark or olive-brown, with a tinge of green, only 

 perceptible in a strong Ught, and margined with a border of obscure yellowish- 

 brown. All the plates are marked with distinct anastomosing lines of brownish- 

 orange, which gives a reticulated appearance to the whole shell. The sternum is 

 of a dingy yellow colour; the wings and supplemental plates marked with waving 

 brownish hues, interspersed with lines of yellow. 



The head and neck are dark brown, or black, striped with yellow; the jaws are 

 horn colour; a longitudinal line of yellow begins at the snout, and is continued 

 backwards, between the orbits, and terminates at the occiput; two other lines, of 

 nearly the same size and colour, begin behind the orbits on each side, and are 

 continued along the superior surface of the neck; at the distance of a fourth of an 

 inch posterior to each orbit is a dirty yellow blotch; the inferior surface of the 

 neck is dusky, and marked with yellowish hues; one of these begins at the chin, 

 and soon subdivides, the branches running towards the articulation of the lower 

 jaw, whence it is continued along the neck. Beginning where the latter line 

 subdivides is another longitudinal and larger line, running along the middle of the 

 throat; on each side of these principal lines are many others, both on the cheek 

 and throat; near the angle of the mouth is a remarkable yellow blotch, surrounded 

 by yellowish concentric lines; another blotch is found in front of the t}Tnpanum, 

 whence it descends, terminating in a line that runs along the lateral and inferior 

 borders of the neck. 



The anterior extremities are coloured like the neck, with two or three longi- 

 tudinal hues of dirty yellow. The general colour of the posterior extremities is 

 like the anterior, with transverse bands of dirty yellow on the nates. The superior 

 surface of the leg and foot are dusky, with some yellow spots and lines; the 

 inferior surface is of the same colour, and marked with blotches and longitudinal 

 lines of yellow. The tail is dusky brown, marked with longitudinal lines of dingy 

 yellow; these hues are distinctly marked only as far as the vent. 



Dimensions. Length of shell, 8i inches; of sternum, 7 inches; height, 3 inches; 



