EMYS SCABRA. 
dered modem authors cautious in quoting him upon such points. Lacepede 
however, not having the advantage of the more modern discoveries in this 
important department of natural science, has adopted the error; but, having 
ascertained that specimens of the same animal had been brought from the new 
world, he assigns to it the two incompatible habitats of the East Indies and 
Carolina. The truth is, that it is not only an American species, but in a great 
measure exclusively an American form. 
Notwithstanding the repeated notices which have appeared of the young 
state of this tortoise, and the numerous figures which have been given of it— 
three of which however, those of Seba, of Lac6pede, and of Spix, can alone be 
considered as original,—its adult condition has never before been represented. 
The present Plates are taken from the smaller of two specimens which I had 
alive, and which I received from Tropical America. The markings on the 
head are here represented, as they exist in the living animal, of a bright red 
colour; but soon after death they become paler, and gradually fade to a 
yellowish white. 
Upon the whole I feel satisfied that the list of synonyms which I have given 
of this species is correct. I have thought it safe to append a note of interroga¬ 
tion to the quotation from Linnaeus; and it would he difficult to quote a single 
instance in the whole of his genus Testudo , in which his characters could be 
considered distinctive. Seba’s figure is also a little doubtful; but that of Lace¬ 
pede is conclusive, as even the peculiar markings on the head are distinctly 
to be traced. His description is so imperfect, that were it not for the figure, 
it would be impossible to tell to what species it was intended to refer. 
Like all other fluviatile species, this tortoise is carnivorous, feeding on frogs, 
fish, and any other small animals. The two which I had in my possession fed 
freely on small pieces of raw meat, but never showed the slightest disposition 
to bite or snap when teased, differing in this respect from Emys decussata , 
E. serrata , and other large American species of the genus. The egg is of a 
very peculiar form, being a long oval. That from which the figure is taken 
was found, after death, in the oviduct of the larger of the two specimens 
mentioned above. 
