698 



PEOE. H. O. SEELEY ON THE EEPTILE 



fracture 13 inillim. This is not an identification in which I feel 

 absolute confidence, on account of the smoothness of one side of the 

 hone and the roughness of the other, which T had not noticed in any 

 Chelonian scapula. 



Emys Neemayei, Seeley. 



There occur many remains of several Chelonians of moderate size. 

 1 only brought to this country a selection of some of the more cha- 

 racteristic fragments, which all belong to the carapace and plastron. 

 It does not seem to me desirable to determine the genera from these 

 specimens ; but from their general character rather than from any 

 distinctive characteristics, I regard them as being Emydian. The 

 specimens are as imperfect as any of the other reptile remains, and, 

 as they do not differ much in size or character, are difficult to deal 

 with. There are, however, certain differences of texture and form 

 which justify me in indicating the existence of several species. 

 These are all referred provisionally to the genus Emys, pending 

 better evidence of their generic characters. The species are best 

 distinguished by the characters of the plastron ; for the hyo- and hypo- 

 plastral bones preserved may indicate, even in their fragmentary 

 condition, four species. The bulk of the remains I refer to the 

 largest species, which was fully 25 centim. across the carapace. 

 This species is marked by the depth of the grooves which define the 

 areas of the scutes, and frequently by their elevat ed borders. Another 

 marked feature is the exceedingly fine subgranular condition of the 

 bone on its external surface — a character difficult to define, but 

 altogether peculiar. Of this species the plastron is represented by 

 portions of the hyoplastral and hypoplastral bones, though from their 

 fragmentary condition, it is not always easy to distinguish between 

 these. One fragment (PI. XXX. fig. 16) is only 7| centim. broad and 

 5| centim. long ; it does not show a single sutural surface, but exhibits 

 the axillary region crossed in its lower part by an oblique scutal im- 

 pression which runs forwards and a little inwards till it reaches the 

 inner margin of the prseaxillary scute, which is prolonged forwards 

 on the superior edge as a strongly marked groove. The usual trans- 

 verse scutal impression on the basal part of the hyoplastral plate 

 runs a little in advance of the axilla, and, as it nears the lateral 

 margin, is directed angularly forwards in the last centimetre of its 

 length. This scutal impression is strongly elevated ; the ascending 

 axillary process was compressed and directed obliquely upwards, 

 forwards, and apparently a little outwards. The thickness of the 

 plate varies from | centim. in the inner part to 1 centim in front of 

 the axillary notch. 



A second specimen, showing the anterior part of a similar right 

 hyoplastral plate, may, perhaps, belong to the same species though 

 to another individual : the thickness of the scute is the same ; the 

 elevated ridge at the scutal suture is the same ; though fractured in 

 front, it measures upwards of 4^ centim. anterior to the trans- 

 verse suture. The lateral margin of the plate is sharp, being be- 



