SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. 
11 
2. Shell high, with the upper profile convex, declivous in front. Lower 
jaw with double dental ridge. Vertical diameter of pelvis longer 
than horizontal Q>. T. inepta. 
3. Shell with the upper profile straight, not declivous in front. (Known 
from the shell only.) 7 . T. indica. 
4. Known from scapula, pelvis, and femur only, the latter bones being 
more slender than in 5 and 6 8.7". leptocnemis. 
b. The entire carapace extremely thin ; all the bones very slender. Rodriguez Tortoise (extinct) . 
5. Mandible with two dental ridges ; the sixth cervical vertebra with a pair 
of deep hollows or perforations. Shell not declivous in front in the 
male, without vertebral humps d. T. vosmceri. 
B. Gular plate double ; sternum of moderate extent Galapagos Tortoises. 
1. Shell broad, depressed, with the upper anterior profile subhorizontal in 
the male; plates striated; sternum truncated behind. Outer ptery- 
goid-edge sharp ; a deep recess in front of the occipital condyle . . \0. T. elephantopus 
(James Isl. ? Living). 
2. Shell broad, high, with declivous anterior profile in the male ; plates 
striated ; sternum excised behind. Outer pterygoid-edge sharp ; a 
deep recess in front of the occipital condyle \\. T. nigrita 
(Isl. — ? Living). 
3. Shell rather nai-row, depressed, with the upper anterior profile subhori- 
zontal in the male ; plates striated ; sternum constricted in front and 
excised behind. Outer pterygoid-edge flattened ; no recess in front 
of the occipital condyle. Tympanic opening circular 12. vicina 
(South Albemarle ? Living) . 
4. Shell depressed, with the anterior upper profile straight in the male and 
declivous in the female ; plates not striated in the adult. Sternum 
with short lobes, and truncated behind in the adult. Outer ptery- 
goid-edges flattened, scarcely converging behind. No recess iu front 
of the occipital condyle 13. T. microphyes 
(North Albemarle. Living). 
5. Shell elongate, compressed, and not declivous in front, in the male; 
plates smooth in the adult ; sternum truncated behind. Outer 
pterygoid-edge s flattened, scarcely convergent ; palate shallow. No 
recess in front of the occipital condyle 14. T. ephippium 
(Indefatigable Isl. Extinct). 
6. Shell elongate, compressed, and not declivous in front, in the male ; 
plates not striated in the adult ; sternum truncated behind. Jaws 
white. Outer pterygoid-edges flattened, rapidly converging behind. 
Palate deeply concave. A deep impression in front of the occipital 
condyle 15. J", abingdonii 
(Abingdon. Living) . 
c 2 
