EMYS SERRATA. 



33 



backwards, increasing in its descent, and continued all along the neck; a second 

 line extends from the snout to a large yellow spot situated behind the cheek. The 

 neck is dark coloured above, with stripes of yellow, which begin indistinctly about 

 the head. At the back of each eye, is a large yellow spot, whence begin two 

 lines of the same colour, one runs along the upper surface of the neck, the other 

 passes below the tympanum to the throat. The throat is dusky and marked with 

 broad yellow stripes or bands; the central is broad but not very regular; sometimes 

 it divides and then reunites, but soon breaks again into dashes. 



The colour of the shell is dark brown, approaching to black; each plate is 

 marked with irregular yellow stripes or bands; those on the lateral plates are sub- 

 radiate. 



The sternum and inferior surface of the marginal plates is yellow. The gular, 

 the brachial, and generally all the marginal plates are marked with a large, round, 

 or oblong black spot; those on the marginal, are situated on the posterior part 

 near the suture of the adjoining plate. In some specimens these spots exist only 

 on the gular plates, where they are very constant. 



The anterior extremities are black in front, with two or three yellow bands; 

 these sometimes bifurcate near the toes, and are often continued into the web, which 

 is also yellow, or they run along the convex part of the nails, giving them a yellow 

 tinge. The yellow stripes are less regular on the inferior surface, but generally 

 there is one large band along the posterior border. The posterior extremities are 

 dark above, varied with yellow; the latter colour prevails on their inferior surface; 

 many transverse bands and blotches of yellow are seen about the nates. The 

 tail is black above, with a yellow line bifurcating near the basis; below it is 

 yellow, with the margin of the vent black. 



Dimensions. Length of shell, 12 inches; breadth, 7j inches; length of sternum, 

 11^ inches; greatest elevation, II5 inches. 

 Vol. II.— 5 



