58 GALEATED TORTOISE. 



places the before-mentioned blackish lines pass 

 through the margin; in others not: the marginal 

 pieces are twenty-four in number, and of the same 

 colour as the dorsal ones, but with white edges : 

 the under surface is varied with brown and white : 

 the head is above half an inch long, smooth, and 

 plated above with a kind of shield, and terminates 

 in a slightly pointed snout : the neck is mode- 

 rately long, roughish, and white beneath : on 

 each side the opening of the lower jaw are two 

 short retractile cirri or verrucas : the legs are 

 brownish, slightly warted or scaled, and whitish 

 beneath : all the feet are webbed, and have five 

 toes, with as many sharpish claws : the tail is 

 short, conic, and sharp-pointed. The native place 

 of this species is unknown, but it was brought 

 to Mr. Retzius from India, and lived two years, 

 being kept in fresh water, out of which it occa- 

 sionally staid for a few hours : it lived on bread, 

 &c. and sometimes on flies. From the beginning 

 of October to the middle of Ma}^ it remained 

 without food, scarce extending its head above 

 the surface of the water. It delighted in sun- 

 shine, endeavouring to climb up the sides of the 

 vessel occasionally, in order to enjoy its influence. 

 It being doubtful whether this animal be the real 

 T. scabra of Linnaeus, Mr. Retzius proposes the 

 trivial name of galeata, from the armed or cata- 

 phracted covering of the head. 



