BIG-HEADED TORTOISE. 
75 
black patches on the bright yellow plastron; the carapace being brown. I have 
taken specimens of this pretty little batagur, which does not exceed 8 inches in 
length and is generally much smaller, near the fort at Calcutta. Like the under¬ 
mentioned dhongoka, it occurs fossil in the Pliocene deposits of Northern 
India. The larger species of the genus, such as the Indian dhongoka (C. dhongoka), 
which grows to over 14 inches, has the fourth vertebral shield broad in front, 
instead of being narrowed to a point. The three remaining genera, Callagur, 
Batagur, and Hardella, differ from the preceding in that the fourth vertebral 
shield of the carapace is not longer than the third; but it will be unnecessary to 
point out the features by which they are severally distinguished. The largest of 
all is the true batagur {Batagur basca), in which the carapace measures upwards 
of 20 inches in length. 
All the batagurs are exclusively vegetable feeders, and the larger species are 
thoroughly aquatic in their habits, spending by far the greater portion of their 
time in the water. They abound in the larger rivers of India and Burma, where 
their huge shells form conspicuous objects as they rise to the surface to breathe. 
Describing the habits of a captive specimen, Dr. John Anderson states that when 
it rose to breathe “ its nostrils were simply protruded above the surface of the 
water, and retained in that position for about half a minute, during which it made 
a long expiration, followed by a deep inspiration, the creature then slowly 
subsiding, tail-backwards, to the bottom. The animals, unless they were much 
irritated, never attempted to bite, but, when so treated, they sluggishly seized any 
object put in their way, holding it between their jaws with considerable tenacity, 
at the same time withdrawing the head into the shell. They moved about on 
the ground with considerable agility, supporting their heavy bodies erect on their 
legs, like a land-tortoise.” Another species will occasionally snap, when, owing to 
the friction of its serrated jaws against each other, a peculiar kind of barking 
sound is produced. Batagurs are eaten in Lower Bengal by some of the inferior 
castes of Hindus, and are kept for this purpose in tanks. 
The Big-Headed Tortoise. 
Family Rlatysternidie. 
This extraordinary creature 
(Platy sternum megacephalum), which 
is an inhabitant of the south of China, 
Siam, and Burma, is the sole repre¬ 
sentative, not only of a very remark¬ 
able genus, but likewise of a distinct 
family, which appears to be to a great 
extent intermediate between that of 
the tortoises and that of the snappers. 
The most peculiar feature about this 
tortoise is the disproportionately 
lare^e size of its head, in which the 
o 
SIDE VIEW OF SKULL OF BIG-HEADED TORTOISE. 
(From Boulenger). 
