1837.] of Central India. 693 



in the centre of each ; each scutellum is also deeply striated or groved 

 concentrically, and has a squarish form at the base. 



The fore legs are well protected with strong nails or horny tuber- 

 cles studded all over them, and the feet are all armed with solid 

 nails, 5 on the fore feet and 4 on those behind. The skin is greyish 

 black and the studs yellowish. 



In July 1834, one female weighed 5 J lbs. 



ditto ditto, 5-J- lbs. 



Old male, 3 lbs.-v 



A male, 2\ lbs. I a slight difference iri 



2^ lbs. | size in the males. 



2 lbs, J 



The sexual organs of both are situated in the anus, the male having 

 the power of exserting his, which is of large size. 



The eggs of the Geometric Tortoise are pure white, of an oblong 

 oval form, the ends being of equal size, and not smaller at one extre- 

 mity as in the eggs of birds. 



The shell is thin, and one inch and 8 lines in length and 4 inches 

 in lateral girth. Those deposited in the earth as above mentioned 

 were allowed to remain in the hope of seeing them hatch, but in the 

 warmth of April 1835 somebody or something stole them and disap- 

 pointed me. 



As they increase in age, they lose the beautiful radiated appearance 

 of the shell, and indeed it frequently peels off in scales even when 

 Ihey are in their prime. 



I have an old male which has lost the yellow rays or rather which 

 has lost the whole of the outer coating of the shell and is now of a 

 dirty yellowish colour, the carapace being cracked and divided so irre- 

 gularly, as to render it somewhat difficult to recognise the true divi- 

 sions of the scutella. One of the females has also lost the outer coat- 

 ing of one or two scales, while in other respects she is quite perfect. 



These animals when handled, will generally either from fear or as 

 a means of defence, squirt out a quantity of water in a pretty strong 

 stream from the anus. 



I have read that the combats of the males may be heard at some 

 distance, from the noise they produce in butting against each other. 

 This was never the case with the Geometric Tortoises, although mine 

 had frequent fights, — but these instead of butting, consisted merely in 

 trials of strength, one male confronting another, with the head and 

 fore-legs drawn into the shell, and the hind feet planted firmly on the 

 ground, and in this manner shoving against each other until one or 

 4 u 



