240 



VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY 



Chelone mydas, the green turtle, is the largest and best known species 

 of sea turtle, though the "hawksbill," Chelone imbricata (Fig. 134, B) 

 is a close rival in popularity. Thallasochelys, "the loggerhead turtle," 

 though it is of no commercial value on account of its rank flesh, is of 



Fig. 134,— Group of Clielonm, II. A, Snake-necked Tortoise, Hydromedusa 

 maximiliaiii; B, .Soft-sliellcd Tortoise, Aspidoncctes spiiufrr; C, Giant Land 

 Tortoise or Elephant Tortoise, Tcstudo dcphanlina. D, The '" JMatamata," 

 Chelys fimbriata. (All redrawn, A and C after Lydekker, B and D, after Gadow.) 



considerable interest on account of the fact that it exhibits a remark- 

 able diversitj' of scute and ])late number and arrangement. This is 

 probably an evidence of primitiveness, and may approach the an- 

 cestral condition. 



