CHELYID.33. 



167 



in advance of the larger peripheral protuberances being 0,305 

 (12 inches). Skull with the second pair of peripheral protu- 

 berances (horn-cores) flattened and directed outwardly ; anterior 

 pair approximated to the base of the second pair : parietal pair very- 

 large ; frontal region occupied by three pairs of nodose tuberosities. 

 Terminal segments of caudal sheath short, with the protuberances 

 of adjacent segments very large and closely approximated. 

 Hob. Australia (Queensland). 



R. 391. The imperfect cranium; from the Pleistocene of King's 

 {Fiy.) Creek, Condamine lliver, Queensland. The type specimen 

 (fig. 39, B); figured by Owen in the 'Phil. Trans.' 1880, 

 pis. xxxvii. & xxxviii., and referred to Varanus (Mega- 

 lania) priscus ; noticed by Huxley, ' Proc. Boy. Soc' vol. 

 xlii. p. 237. The palatal region is wanting, but the outer 

 half of the right quadratic condyle still remains ; the 

 missing portions of the frontal aspect have been restored 

 in plaster since the specimen was figured. 



Presented by G. F. Bennett, Esq., 1880. 



R. 392. The termination of the caudal sheath ; from the Pleistocene 

 {Fiy.) of King's Creek. Probably associated with the preceding 

 specimen. This specimen (fig. 39, A) is figured by Owen 

 in the ' Phil. Trans.' 1881, pis. lxiv. & lxv. (as Mega- 

 lania prised), and noticed by Huxley, loc. cit. It com- 

 prises one free ring, and two coalesced rings anchylosed to 

 the terminal cap. Presented by G. F. Bennett, Esq., 1881. 



Family CHELYID.E \ 



Shell comparatively thin, without mesoplastrals, and with a re- 

 duced number of neurals and suprapygals ; both pubis and ischium 

 uniting with xiphiplastral. No inframarginal shields. Skull with- 

 out quadratojugal, and with open temporal fossae and a parieto- 

 squamosal arch ; prefrontals separated by frontals ; distinct nasals 

 (except in Chelys); vomer dividing palatines; a persistent inter- 

 dentary suture. 5th and 8th cervical vertebras biconvex. Number 

 of phalangeals normal. Coracoid more or less expanded distally. 

 Caudal vertebras proccelous, without chevrons ; tail short. The 

 quadratic and palatal regions of the skull have the characters men- 

 tioned under the head of the section. 



1 Usually incorrectly given as Chelyclidce, but the word x&vs has the geni- 

 tive %e\wos. 



