82 Journal of the Mitchell Society. [ June 
Group III comprises three species which agree in having 
the upper jaw with a notch at the symphisis, but without 
cusps on each side of the notch, in the edges of both jaws 
being without serrations, in the ridge in the masticating sur- 
face of the jaws being non-tuberculate, and in the plastron 
being more or less blotched. These three are seripta of 
the Southeastern United States, and elegans and troostii of 
the Mississippi Valley and south westward. 
The three may be distinguished as follows: 
1. Carapace keeled at all ages, a vertical yellow bar just 
behind eye. Scripta. 
Carapace not keeled in adult, no vertical yellow bar 
behind eye. 
2. An elongate-oval red mark on neck behind eye. Elegans. 
No oval red mark on neck. Troostii . 
Scripta is a large, heavily-built terrapin, with a wrinkled 
shell, and a distinct dorsal keel at all ages. A diagnostic 
mark of this species is a vertical yellow figure just behind 
the eye. The marginals are marked as usual in the genus 
with a vertical yellow bar and concentric figures between; the 
latter, however, are usually absent in adults. The carapace 
is marked on the costals with yellow, black and brown mark- 
ings, there being usually a central yellow stripe down the 
middle of each costal with yellow and brown lines parallel to 
it and meeting their fellows above its upper end, and to some 
extent below its lower end; the black is more irregular in 
amount and position than the other colors, but there is always 
some black on each plate in the adult, although it is wanting 
in young specimens. On the posterior costals the markings 
are less regular and more confused. The plastron is yellow, 
or occasionally brownish, with a round black spot on each of 
the two anterior plates; often there is a black spot on the 
next two plates also, and occasionally one on every plate. 
