158 0HELONIA.NS. 



Museum Catalogue, who makes tliem the third order of Eeptiles 

 in his arrangement as folloTFs : — 



I. TESTUDIXID/E. 



Testudo, Cliersma, Kinixys, Pyxis. 



II. ElITDIDyE. 



Geoemj'da, Emys, Cyclcmys, Malaclemys, Cistudo, Kinosternon, 

 Chelydra, Platysteruum. 



in. Chelydid^. 



Sternotlierus, Pelomedusa, Hydraspi.s, Chelymys, Phrynops, Chelodina, 

 Hydromedusa, Chelys, Peltoceplialus, Padociiemis. 



IV. Teiojttcid.i::. 

 Trionyx, Emj^da. 



V. C'lIELOH'IAD.'E. 



Spliargis, CliGlonia, C'aretta, Casuaiia. 



In the valuable " Erpetologie " of Messrs. Dumeril and Bibron, 

 the Chelonians are divided into — 1, Land Tortoises, Chersites ; 2, 

 jMarsh Tortoises, Elodites ; 3, River Tortoises, Potamites ; 4, Sea 

 Tortoises, or Turtles, Thalassifes. 



This arrangement being the most simple, is adopted as best 

 adapted to our purpose.] 



Laxp Tortoises. 



Terrestrial Tortoises are distinguished bv their short, oval, and 

 convex bodies, covered by carapace and jjlastron : four feet and 

 the absence of teeth ; short, stumpy, unshapely legs ; nearly equal 

 toes, armed vith chnvs, united by a tliick skin, so as to form a 

 clumsy foot, the periphery of which forms a sort of hoof which 

 seems adapted for the land. 



In this group the carapace is very convex, its licight sometimes 

 exceeding its breadth ; it forms a solid, generally an immovable, 

 arch, under which the animal can completely conceal its feet and 

 tail. Tliis hiicl'lcr is covered with large horny plaies or scales. 



Land Tortoises have been known from the earliest times, repre- 

 sentations of them being found on numerous monuments of anti- 

 quity, the product of ancient art. Moreover, ancient writers tell 



