460 CHELONIA. 



shields subequal, subrhomboid ; as broad as long, else broader than 

 long. Marginal shields twenty-seven in number. Yellow and olivej 

 maculated with brown and black. 



Obsery. — The carapax, an outline of which is subjoined, is all that 

 we at present know of this species. Nothing would have proved more 

 interesting than the head and flippers of a turtle apparently so re- 

 markable. Its frame is lightly built ; the bones and horny shield be- 

 ing very thin, contrasting strangely with that of Chelonia formosa and 

 Caretta rostrata, with which it is associated, amongst the Polynesian 

 or Coral Islands. 



The anterior edge is subconcave, the odd marginal shield quite nar- 

 row and transversely elongated; the next two pairs being the smallest 

 of the series. The posterior pair is longer than broad. The third 

 vertebral shield is the narrowest of the series; this, however, may 

 not prove a constant character. The dorsal region itself is depressed; 

 the sides gradually sloping towards the periphery, which is nearly 

 even, slightly undulated posteriorly. The thoracic region is narrower 

 across its middle than the pelvic region. 



The coloration consists of an admixture of brown, black, yellow, 

 and olive, so as to assume a marmorated appearance. 



The following remarks we copy from the " Note-book" of the Expe- 

 dition, under the head of Rosa Island : 



"Several individuals were seen, and one captured, viz., a young 

 male. Their trails were frequent in the sand, to the upper part of the 

 beach, visited apparently for the purpose of depositing their eggs ; but 

 none of the latter were discovered, though careful search was made. 

 In the shallow part of the lagoon I had an opportunity of witnessing 

 the speed with which they travel in the water, and was surprised to 

 find them to all appearances quite a match for the shark in this re- 

 spect. The one captured had the alimentary canal crowded with sea- 

 weeds (the Gaulerpa, seen at Raraka), and I am at a loss to imagine 

 where a sufficient supply of this substance can be procured, unless at 

 considerable depth. This may also account for the general scarcity of 

 these animals among these islands where marine vegetables are so 

 rare." 



Under the head of Honden Island, we likewise read : 



" Two specimens observed near the surf were females, and had very 

 short tails. A male had the tail seventeen inches long, and was found 



