49 



ELEGANT TORTOISE. 



Testudo Elegans. T, testa orhkulata convexa Jlava, disco macn* 



lis transversis ovatis fuscis. 

 Tortoise with orbicular, convex, yellow shell, with transverse, 



oval, brown spots. 

 Testudo terr^stris Ceilonica elegans minor. Seb. 1. p, 126. t. 



The animal described and figured by Seba, un- 

 der the title of Testudo terrestris Ceilonica elegans 

 minoi\ is a small Land-Tortoise, with the shell 

 nearly circular in its outline, and about two inches 

 in length : its colour is a bright yellow, its surface 

 apparently smooth, and at each of the commis- 

 sures or joinings of the pieces composing the disk 

 is a large oval, or rather leaf-shaped, black or dark 

 brown transverse spot ; the pattern forming three 

 rows of transverse spots down the disk ; and at the 

 upper junctures, or those where the ultimate pieces 

 of the disk join those of the margin, is a broad 

 spot of a more fasciated form : there are also two 

 rather irregular or slightly flexuous black lists 

 running down the shell, between the rows of 

 spots : the marginal pieces are each marked by a 

 transverse black belt or zone, thus forming a spot- 

 ted edge round the whole : the head appears to be 

 short and thick, and covered with small scales ; 

 the feet short, strong, scaly, and un webbed, as in 

 other land Tortoises, and furnished with five claw^s 

 on each : the tail very short. Nothing particular 

 seems to be known of its history. The species 



V. III. p. I. 4 



