IOO 
TORTOISES AND TURTLES . 
the other hand, all the American soft-tortoises, of which T. ferox is a well-known 
example, differ by having only seven pairs of costal bones. Numerous representa¬ 
tives of the genus occur in the Miocene and Eocene strata of Europe, as well as 
in the Tertiary rocks of India and the United States. Two other members of 
the first subfamily, confined to Asia, 
represent as many genera. Of these 
Cantor’s soft-tortoise ( Pelochelys can- 
tori), from India, Burma, and Malayana, 
has the sockets of the eyes placed 
more anteriorly than in the type genus. 
This forward position of the eye-sockets 
is still more marked in the much elon¬ 
gated skull of the great Indian chitra 
(Chitra indica), where they are placed 
close up to the nose. 
Granulated Soft- The three remaining 
Tortoises. genera of the family are 
characterised by the sculpture of the 
shell generally taking the form of small 
pustules, and thus resembling shagreen; 
while the hyo- and hypoplastral bones 
of the lower shell are united; and there 
is a flap of skin on each side of the under 
surface, beneath which the hind-limbs 
can be concealed. All the forms are 
confined to the Old World; and while 
one of the three genera is Indian, the other two are African. The Indian genus 
Emyda is readily characterised by the presence of a complete series of neural 
bones in the carapace, coupled with a semicircle of marginal bones at its hinder 
extremity. In neither of the three living species does the length of the shell and 
its soft disc exceed 10 inches, but much larger fossil forms are found in the 
Pliocene rocks of India. Both the African genera lack marginal bones, but whereas 
in one ( Cycloderma ) there is a full series of neural bones to the carapace, in 
the other ( Cyclanorbis ) these form an incomplete and interrupted series. 
All the soft-tortoises are thoroughly aquatic, most of them but 
Habits. . J 1 ’ 
rarely leaving the water except for the purpose of laying their eggs, 
and in consequence of these habits very little is known as to their mode of life. 
Although confined as a rule to rivers, a few of the species frequent estuaries, and 
Cantor’s soft-tortoise has been found some distance out at sea. Occasionally, 
again, specimens of the Indian granulated soft-tortoises have been met with 
wandering on land far from the neighbourhood of water. Fiercer and more 
spiteful than any other members of the Chelonian order, these tortoises, owing to 
a peculiarity in the structure and mode of articulation of some of the vertebras of 
the neck, have the power of darting out the head with inconceivable rapidity, 
the great Indian chitra being facile princeps in this respect. Owing to this habit 
the larger species are dangerous creatures to approach incautiously, as their bite 
cantor’s soft-tortoise. 
