CHELONIA. 713 



generally assumed by the females of this small group of radiated land tortoises, it is 

 probable that the rounded form of the types is to be ascribed to their being 

 examples of the female. There can be no doubt but that the plates are more 

 flattened than in T. actinodes, but I cannot avoid thinking that the shells in 

 question had been purposely selected on account of their little nodose character 

 •which made them more suited for the baling of oil. This would appear to be a 

 legitimate supposition, as I have observed tortoises of the T. actinodes group at 

 Bhamo, and have since received them from other parts of Burma, with the nodes 

 raised as in some examples of the Indian species. 



The areolar nodes and the lines of growth are the subjects of considerable 

 variation as regards the extent to which they are developed in the allied species, 

 T. actinodes, as some shells are almost smooth, and without marked nodes or lines, 

 while in others both are well developed. It would appear that when both, or one 

 or other, are present to a marked degree, the characteristic colouring prevails. In 

 the types of T. platynota, although the areolar nodes are low, not rising above the 

 level of the shell, the lines are strongly present, also the anastomosing yeUow lines 

 on the dark-brown back- ground. I have, however, as I have already stated' 

 observed land tortoises referable to T. platynota, Blyth, which have distinct nodes 

 on the upper surface of the shell, but at the same time not to the marked extent 

 that occurs in the majority of examples referable to T. actinodes, although there 

 are examples of the latter quite as little raised at the nodes as the most nodular 

 specimens of T. platynota. 



Dr. Gray has remarked that the leading character of this species is to be found 

 in the smooth plastron, but I have observed the sternum of T. actinodes not 

 unfrequently perfectly smooth. 



Theobald, who was inclined to regard it as a local race of T. actinodes 

 (T. elegansj, states that it is uniformly larger than the Indian species, but I have 

 examples of T. actinodes as large as it. Tortoises have such a capacity of growth, 

 that difference in size, unless very marked, is of little significance as regards species. 



Young male. — Shell elongated ; sides at middle almost straight, highly arched ; 

 moderately flat above over the vertebrals. No reversion of the posterior marginals as 

 in T. actinodes. Plastron concave ; nuchal absent. The front vertebral shield is 

 shorter and broader than in T. actinodes, whereas the second, third and fourth 

 vertebrals are broader, and the caudal plate is broader and much less pointed 

 than in T. actinodes. The gulars are small and very slightly divergent, and the 

 external margin of the postgulars is less bulging : the pectorals appear to be 

 somewhat relatively narrower. The areolae of the preanals do not project as in 

 T. actinodes. The anal notch is much the same as in T. actinodes. The tail is long, 

 with a small claw at its extremity. 



The female has a slightly concave plastron, and her shell is not so elongated as 

 in the male, and is more roundedly arched from side to side, and there is a slight 

 expansion at the posterior marginals. The tail is short, with a smaller claw than 

 in the male, 



s4 



