to be immediately known from any other kind. Its 

 ufual length is about five or fix inches: its colour a 

 deep chefnut-brown, moft elegantly marked over the 

 whole upper furface with innumerable oval fpecks of 

 yellowifh white. There are fcarce lefs than 150 or 200 

 of thefe fpecks on each divifion of the fhield. The 

 whole is fmootb, or undiftinguifhed by any furrows or 

 rifings on the divifions, except that down the middle 

 of the three chief or central pieces runs an elevated or 

 projecting carina as it were, which is much lefs diftinct 

 in fome fpecimens than in others. The edge or outline 

 of the (hell is fmooth, or compofed of pieces which 

 do not project unequally, but form one continued, 

 nearly eliptic figure. The lower furface is pale yel- 

 lowifh, with a few irregular patches of brown. The 

 head is moderately large. The eyes large. The feet 

 of the ufual ftructure in other land and frefh-water tor- 

 toifes, and furnifhed with ftrong- claws. The tail long- 

 ilh and fcaly. It fometimes happens that the beautiful 

 appearance which generally diftinguifhes this fpecies, 

 is nearly loft, or at leafh greatly obliterated, by the,, 

 dark ground-colour predominating too much, and the 

 fpots becoming confluent. This however is not often 

 the cafe. It is a native of America*. 



