106 EMYS PSEUDO-GEOGRAPHICA. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 14 lines; length of shell, 6^ inches; of sternum, 

 6 inches; length of tail beyond vent, 1 inch. 



Habits. This animal is entirely aquatic; and though frequently seen on fallen 

 trees or rocks that rise above the water, yet it only seeks the land in the breeding 

 season. It feeds on various small fish, reptiles, &c. 



Geographical Distribution. The Emys pseudo-geographica inhabits many 

 of the rivers that empty into the Mississippi, and is abundant in some, but has 

 never yet been found to the eastward of the Alleghany range of mountains. 



General Remarks. The first account of this animal was given by Lesueur in 

 the "Memoires du Museum d'Histoire Naturelles,"* and his description is good, 

 though he considered it a variety of the Emys geographica, in which opinion he 

 has been followed by most naturahsts, while others consider it only as the young 

 animal; yet that it is entirely a different animal, may be seen by a reference to the 

 tubercles on the vertebral line, to the form of the jaws, to the small size of the 

 head, which is not more than one half as large as in the Einys geographica, 

 though the carapace may be longer and more elevated; to its geographical 

 distribution, &c.; and Lesueur seems lately to have come to the same conclusion.t 



* Vide torn. xv. p. 267. t Dum. et Bib. torn. ii. p. 256. 



