TE8Tu"DINTD^. 



85 



39828. The imperfect cranium ; from the Pliocene of the Siwalik 



(Fig.) Hills. Described and figured by the writer in the ' Rec. 



Geol. Surv. Ind.' vol. xxii. pt. iv. The posterior palatal 



and occipital region (fig. 13) is well preserved, and serves 



Testudo, sp. — The palatal aspect of the posterior portion of the cranium ; from 

 the Pliocene of the Siwalik Hills. ^. an, auditory aperture ; bo, basi- 

 occipital; bs, basisphenoid ; con, condyle of quadrate ; oc, occipital condyle ; 

 op, opisthotic ; pt, pterygoid ; qu, quadrate ; squ, squamosal. (From the 

 ' Eec. Geol. Surv. Ind.') 



to show the affinity of this specimen with the tortoises of 

 the Galapagos Island (fig. 14, B) and its difference from 

 those of the Aldabra group 1 . This affinity is at once 

 shown by the plate-like and curved form of the opisthotic, 

 which extends behind the plane of the occipital condyle ; 

 and also by the narrow and slit-like form of the entrance 

 to the labyrinth. The vaulting of the pterygoids is 

 comparatively slight. The absence of a pit between the 

 quadrate and the basisphenoid is alone sufficient to distin- 

 guish this specimen from the cranium No. 39819 (p. 78). 



Cautley Collection. Presented, 1840. 



1 The Mascarene tortoises, while nearest to those of the Galapagos Islands, 

 have the opisthotics less produced backwardly. 



