74 CHELONIA. 



Testudo spratti, Leith- Adams \ 



Founded on a tibia, which differs from that referred to T. robusta 

 by the deeper groove on the astragalo-calcaneal aspect, and by the 

 presence of two muscular tuberosities on the anterior aspect. This 

 specimen indicates a smaller form than T. robusta. 



Hab. Europe (Malta). 



49335. The left tibia; from the Pleistocene deposits of Zebbug 

 {Fig.) Cave, Malta. The type specimen ; described and figured 



by Leith-Adams in the ' Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc/ vol. xxxiii. 



p. 186, pi. vi. figs. 4, 4 a. 



Presented by Admiral Sjwatt, C.B., 1876. 



Testudo atlas (Falconer and Cautley 2 ). 



Syn. Megalochelys sivalensis, Falconer and Cautley 3 . 

 Colossochelys atlas, Falconer and Cautley 4 . 

 Testudo atlas, Lydekker 5 . 



Of very large dimensions, the length of the carapace being ap- 

 proximately six feet. The chief feature of this species is the great 

 production of the epipl astral cornua, which (at least typically) are 

 very large, thick, and divergent, and supported on the ventral aspect 

 by a strong triangular keel bearing the gular shields. In the nuchal 

 bone referred by Falconer to this species there is no nuchal shield ; 

 while in the pygal referred to it by the same authority the caudal 

 shield is divided. The marginal bones have their longer diameter 

 at right angles to the periphery of the carapace, and thereby resemble 

 those of T. emys and T. radiata, and differ from T. elepliantina 

 and other giant tortoises • of the present day, in which the other 

 diameter is the longer. The cranium which probably belongs to 

 this species agrees in structure with the crania of the giant tortoises 

 of Aldabra, having the same deep excavation of the palate, and the 

 opisthotics comparatively short and not extending posteriorly to the 

 plane of the posterior border of the occipital condyle (fig. 14 b). 



This species appears to be allied to T. jperjpiniana, Deperet °, from 

 the Pliocene of France, in which the carapace has a length of 1,200, 



1 Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xxxiii. p. 186 (1877). 



2 Proc. Zool. Soc. 1844, p. 54.— Colossochelys. 



3 Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, vol. vi. p 358 (1837).— Subsequently withdrawn. 

 1 Troc. Zool. Soc. 1844, p. 54. 



6 Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, vol. xlix. pt. ii. p. 20 (1880). 

 G Ann. Sci. Geol. vol. xvii. art. i. p. 214 (1885). See also Cmnptes 

 Eendus, vol. cv. p. 1275 (1887). 



