CHELONIA, Uept. 5 
CiTAPMAN, H. 0. A note on reflex action in Turtles; P. Ac. Philad. 
1877, p. 146. 
G C’ntiier, a. The Gigantic Land Tortoises (living and extinct) in the 
Collection of the British Museum. London : 1877, 4to, 96 pp. 
54 pis. 
Instead of continuing the series of memoirs begun in 1874, in vol. clxv. of 
the Phil. Trans., Dr. Gunther has completed and embodied the whole of 
his researches on this subject in a volume issued by the Trustees of the 
British Museum. Through the acquisition of most extensive and valu- 
able new materials, he has been enabled to correct and supplement some 
of the views expressed in his former treatise ; and great additional 
importance is given to the present work by his interesting discovery of 
characters distinguishing the Tortoises of the Mascarones from those of 
the Galapagos Islands, a solution being thus obtained to what had 
hitherto appeared, and might always have remained, an insoluble pro- 
blem. It is now found that : — 1. The specimens with a nuchal plate 
(and with double gular) come from Aldabra. 2. Those with single 
gular (and without nuchal) come from the Mascarenes. 3. Those with- 
out nuchal and with double gular are Galapagos Tortoises. 
A complete history of the different races is given, and detailed descrip- 
tions of all the species, with figures of entire animals, carapaces, and 
bones. The species are as follows : — 
Races of the Aldabra Group. — Testudo elephantina, daudini, ponderosa, 
hololissa. 
The Extinct Races of the Mascarenes. — a, of Mauritius : T. triserrata, 
inepta, Icptocnemis. B, of Rodriguez : T. vosmcvri. 
. The Races of the Galapagos. — T. elcplianiopus (James Island P), 
nigrita (locality uncertain), vicina (South of Albemarle Island), microphyes 
(North of Albemarle Island), ephippium (Charles Island), ahingdoni 
(Abingdon Island). 
A complete list is given of the large series of specimens now in the 
British Museum. 
Lataste, F. An inquiry as to the method by which Tortoises absorb 
the fluid necessary for their economy. Bull. Soc. Zool. Fr. ii. 
pp. 273-280. 
Vaillant, L. Note sur la disposition des vertebres cervicales chez 
quelques Cheloniens. Bull. Soc. Philom. (7) i. pp. 13-15. 
. Note sut la composition anatomique des batons du plastron 
formant la carapace chez les Cistudes et les Cinosternes. L. c. 
pp. 36-39. 
. Note sur la disposition des pieces osseuses dans le plastron des 
Sternoth^res. L. c. pp. 50 & 51. 
. Sur la classification et les affinit^s r<5ciproques des Chdlonions. 
L. c. pp. 54-58. 
The ‘ Ohersites ’ and ‘ Elodites ’ are united into one family, Testudinida, 
consisting of two tribes Chersemydina (Chersites and Elodites Cryp- 
toderes, D. & B.) and Chelydina (Pleurodkes, D. & B.). Fam. ii. Triony- 
