10 
SYNOPSIS 
OF THE 
EXTINCT AND LIVING GIGANTIC LAND-TORTOISES. 
Befoee proceeding to the detailed description of the various forms, I propose to indi- 
cate in a short synopsis the systematic results obtained in the following pages. 
I. Nnchul plate present. Frontal portion of the skull convex. Third cervical 
vertebra biconvex. Pelvis with narrow symphysial bridge. Gular plate 
double. Carapace thick Aldabra Tortoises. 
1 . Shell broad, declivous in front ; scutes striated. Skull broad, with the 
posterior margin of the paroccipital not excised 1. Testudo elephantina 
(living). 
2. Shell narrow, with horizontal anterior profile ; scutes almost entirely 
smooth. Sternum truncated in front and behind. Skull broad, with 
the posterior margin of the paroccij^ital deeply excised 2. T. daudinii 
(living ?) . 
3. Shell regularly elliptical, declivous in front ; scutes with shallow stria- 
tion. Sternum notched behind. Skull narrow, with the posterior 
margin of the paroccipital not excised ; a styloid process on each side 
of the occipital condyle 3. 7". ponderosu 
(living). 
4. Shell regularly elliptical, declivous in front ; scutes quite smooth. 
Sternum truncated beliiiid. Skull ? 4. T. hololissa 
(living) . 
II. Nuchal plate absent. Frontal portion of the skull fiat. Fourth cervical 
vertebra biconvex. Pelvis with broad symphysial bridge. 
A. Gular plate single ; sternum short Mascarene Tortoises. 
a. Carapace thin, thickened towards the margins ; centre of the last vertebral 
plate raised into a hump, which is separated from the penultimate 
vertebral by a transverse depression Tortoises of Mauritius (extinct) . 
Shell depressed, with the upper profile undulated, slightly declivous in 
front. Lower jaw with a treble dental ridge. Horizontal diameter of 
pelvis not longer than vertical 5.7". triserrata 
(an=r. grayi ?). 
