80 
THE EACES OE THE GALAPAGOS. 
with short and broad anterior and posterior lobes, and truncated in front and 
behind. 
In a half-grown male (C, 25 in. long) (Plate XXXVIII.) the reversion of the margins 
is only slightly indicated. The striation occupies a broad band round the periphery of 
each scute ; but the striae are very superficial. The concavity of the sternum is very 
shallow ; and there is a very open indentation on the hind margin of the caudal scutes. 
I)escrij)tion of the Female (Plate XXXV. fig. A, and Plates XXXVI. & XXXVIL). 
— The carapace is more depressed than in the male ; and the upper profile slopes from 
the middle towards the front, being quite a steep decline along the first vertebral scute. 
There is scarcely any concavity on the sides of the fore part of the carapace ; and the 
part of the shell above the hind legs is but slightly bulged outwards. The two front 
marginal scutes join each other by a much longer suture than in the male. The caudal 
plate is distinctly turned outwards. Sternum slightly concave, and caudal margin some- 
what indented, as in the half-grown male specimen (C). The surface of the carapace 
is pitted, without any trace of strise. Tail very short (only 2 inches long). 
In the typical specimen (Plate_ XXXVIL), which, as mentioned above, is likewise a 
female, the plates are not pitted, and the sternum is truncated behind. As a (probably) 
individual peculiarity must be noticed the confluence of the two anterior marginals into 
one plate on each side. 
The females erect their neck much less frequently, and never to the same extent as 
the males ; whether the vertebrae themselves are comparatively shorter than in the 
male cannot be ascertained for the present. 
Ver^ yoting specimens (up to 16 inches in length) show a very well-marked striation 
of the whole surface of the scutes, the areola alone excepted, and cannot be distin- 
guished from the young of other species. 
Measurements. 
Spec, typ., 2 . 
A, d. 
C, 6. 
E, ?. 
in. 
in. 
in. 
in. 
in. 
Leugtli of carapace in straight line 
m 
331 
331 
25 
27 
Length of carapace over curvature 
26 
44 
41 
321 
35 
Width of carapace in straight line 
15i 
25 
241 
19i 
22 
Width of carapace over curvature 
29 
46 
42 
341 
38 
Length of sternum 
18 
27i 
241 
201 
21i 
Width of sternum 
14 
25 
23 
16i 
20 
Width of postgular plates 
8 
14 
12 
10 
10 
Length of postgular plates 
4J- 
9 
6 
5 
6 
Length of caudal plate 
2 
41 
*2 
3i 
3 
4| 
Width of caudal plate 
3f 
8 
6i 
31 
2| 
Skull {Vl2iie XLV. figs. A-C, ^\ Plates XLII.-XLIV. fig. B, $).— The principal 
differences in the skulls of the Galapagos Tortoises are found in the palate and lower 
