NORTH AMERICAN 



HERPETOLOGY 



Order I. CHELONIA. — continued. 



Family III. POTAMITES.* Dumeril et Bibron. 

 CHARACTERS. 



1. The bony carapace is greatly depressed, covered with skin instead of horny 

 plates, which is more extensive than the ribs, and thickest and movable at 

 their external extremities. 



2. The sternum is short, and truncated behind, but longer than the carapace 



before, and is nowhere joined to it by symphysis. 



3. The head is small, elongated, narrow, and covered above, as well as at the 



sides, with skin. 



4. The nostrils are tubular, closely approximated, and open in front, at the 



extremity of a short, fleshy, movable appendix. 



* uni/AiH, ncTx/Ao;: fluvialis, amnicus. 

 Vol. II.— 2 



