20 EMYSPICTA. 



Of the lateral plates, the anterior are very regularly triangular, the bases being 

 rounded and joined to five marginal plates; the second, third and fourth are quad- 

 rilateral. The marginal plates are twenty-five in numbex-, and make one entire 

 cutting margin; the nuchal, or intermediate, is nearly a parallelogram, slightly 

 notched or serrated anteriorly; the first marginal plate is pentagonal, while the 

 others are quadrilateral, the anterior and the femoral plates being largest. 



The sternum is oblong, broad, and of nearly equal length with the shell; full 

 and rounded posteriorly, with the margin entire or but slightly emarginate. The 

 gular plates are triangular, the bases forward, and the apices directed backward; 

 the brachial are irregularly triangular, the bases being rounded and turned outward, 

 their apices inwards and truncate; the thoracic and abdominal are quadrilateral, 

 broad, and rounded externally; the subcaudal are triangular, with a rounded base. 

 Of the supplemental plates, the axillary are very small and triangular, with their 

 apices forward; the inguinal are of the same form, but larger, and have their 

 apices turned in the opposite direction. 



The head is small, but full, and rounded in front; the snout being rather obtuse 

 than pointed. The upper jaw is entire at the sides, but is notched anteriorly. 

 The lower jaw is slightly hooked or turned upwards in front. The nostrils are 

 anterior and near together. The eyes are large and brilliant; the pupil black; the 

 iris golden, with a black band passing through it horizontally. 



The anterior extremities are short, with large scales disposed transversely in 

 front, and smaller scales, intermixed with granulations, behind; the fingers are five 

 in number, slightly webbed, and each furnished with a short, delicate, and slightly 

 incurvated nail. The posterior extremities are rounded above, but flattened at 

 the tarsus, which sustains five fully palmated toes; the four internal alone are 

 provided with nails. The tail is moderately long, narrow, and covered with ranges 

 of scales. 



Colour. The Emys picta, may easily be distinguished from all others of the 



