SIWALIK AND NARBADA CHELONIA. 
15—169 
plates. In addition to its greater inferior size this form of epiplastron is distinguished 
from that of the four preceding types by the absence of any distinct bifurcation at 
the free extremity. In the rectangular termination and long anterior surface this 
type agrees with Testudo horsfieldi and T. elongata, and differs from Manouria emys^ ; 
but the angle formed by the junction of the sutures separating the gular and post- 
gular plates is rather less acute than in the two former ; while the gular portion is 
produced in advance, of the postgular, as in M. emys. The recent Aldabra tortoises 
are distinguished from the present form by the smaller epiplastrals, and the nearly 
straight line formed by the sutures between the gulars and postgulars^ ; while the 
Mascarene forms are still more widely distinguished by the union of the gular plates.^ 
In the figured specimen the length of the intergular suture is about 3-5 inches, and 
that of the one between the gulars and postgulars 3 inches: the corresponding 
dimensions in a male of Testudo elongata, in which the length of the carapace is 9T 
inches, being TO and 0’9 inches. The fossil epiplastra indicate, therefore, a carapace 
of about 33 inches in length, or intermediate between the males and -females of T. 
elephantinad A pair of conjoint epiplastra from the Siwaliks of the Punjab in the 
Indian Museum (No. E 79) indicate a rather smaller individual not improbably 
belonging to the same species. 
Nuchal scute . — The greater portion of the nuchal scute of a large land-tortoise 
represented of one-third the natural size in pi. XIX. fig. 4. agrees so well in relative 
size with the foregoing specimens that it not improbably belongs to the same species. 
It has a very large nuchal plate, which is widest anteriorly ; and in the great width of 
this plate the specimen differs from T. elongata and T. horsfieldi.^ and approaches 
Manouria emys. The length of the nuchal plate is 2*3, and its width anteriorly 2*0 
inches. The presence of the nuchal plate differentiates the species to which it 
belonged from the recent Mascarene and Galapagos gigantic tortoises.^ 
Xiphiplastron . — The left posterior half of the xiphiplastroiT of a land-tortoise 
.with the same history as the last specimen, may from its size be not improbably 
referred to the same species as the epiplastra : it shows the form of the whole of the 
postabdominal plate, which has a length of 9, and an extreme width of about 7 
inches. The specimen is much curved, and apparently agrees to a great extent with 
the corresponding portion of the plastron of M. emys and T. horsfieldi'. it differs 
widely from T. elongata., and likewise from the Aldabra and Mascarene tortoises. 
Distinctness and afinities . — Apart from the question whether all the specimens 
noticed above belong to the same species, they indicate the existence of a land- 
tortoise of inferior size to T. elephantina, and exhibiting affinity with the existing 
land-tortoises of India and Burma, but largely exceeding all of them in size. The 
species is distinct from the recent Aldabra, Mascarene, and Galapagos tortoises, and 
the writer has been unable to identify it with any described fossil form. Its nearest 
1 Vide Gray, “ Catalogue of Shield-Reptiles,” pt. I. pi. III. 
2 Fide Giinther, “ Gigantic Land-Tortoises,” pis. IV. VI. VII. 3 p. lo. 4 p. 25. 
5 Vide Gunther, op. cit., p. 10. tJ Indian Museum, No. E 83. 
