

THE 



AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 



[THIRD SERIES.] 



Aet. XXII. — On a young Tortoise, Ghrysemys picta, with 

 two heads; by E. H. Baeboue. With Plate Y. 



The following is a brief description of a young two-headed 

 tortoise, Ghrysemys picta, which is a remarkably interesting 

 specimen from the very perfection of its imperfection. It was 

 found in the marshes bordering West River in New Haven, 

 Conn., by Master Leighton Foster, the first part of June, and 

 from appearances had been hatched but two or three days. 



The single body, with the usual four legs and a tail, carries 

 two equal, and in every respect, normal and well- developed 

 heads and necks, which are throughout entirely free and dis- 

 tinct. The two heads see, hear, eat, drink, sleep, breathe, and 

 move independently. See figures 3 and 4, and compare with 

 figures 1 and 2, which represent a normal tortoise of the same 

 age — about two weeks. The carapace, to external appearance, 

 is well formed and natural, save that it is broader than long 

 by nearly one-fourth, and its vertebral line is a little curved 

 to the right, with the back slightly humped. But none of 

 these are noticeable deformities, had it a single head. Its ap- 

 pendages are perfectly natural so far as their form is concerned. 



This little monster still lives (Sept. 4), and has increased 

 in size at least one-third during the past fourteen weeks. It is 

 active and apparently healthy, and bids fair to survive this 

 season at least. It eats voraciously when fed by familiar 



Am. Jour. Sci.— Third Series, Vol. XXXVI, No. 214.— Oct., 1888. 

 15 



