ANATOMT OF THE TURTLE. 



507 



largest. Underneath the epidermal plates a'« nine bony 

 pieces. The dorsal carapace is composed of thirty-eight 

 plates, twenty-five marginal, of which the mos' anterior lies 

 in the middle line ; there are five median plates and a lateral 

 roW of four plates on each side. 



To dissect a turtle, saw through the lateral p'ftces of the 

 M 



Pig. 446.— Anatomy of the Turtle, Chryeemys plcta.—'Dra.vnii by C. S. Minot. 



shell which unite the plastron and carapace, then remove tlie 

 ventral piece, can fully freeing it from the organs beneath. 



Fig.' 446 represents a female, with the intestines and di- 

 gestive glands partially freed and turned aside, while the 

 shoulder-blade, oviduct, and ovary of the left side and tlie 



