T E S T U D O . -’V E'R RQXII .
(Rep tdlia... I ’late, 8)
TESTUDO VERROXIL—Smith.
Reptilia.—P late VIII.—Male.
T. testa supra nigro-brunnea, maculis, radiisque pallide ochreo-flavis variegatis; infra flava, fascia longitu-
dinali brunnea inter scutas gulares et anum; capite suprk subflavo; pedibus anterioribus antice
squamis imbricatis magnis tectis; scutis marginalibus angulum scutis costalibus formantibus.
Longitudo testae 3 unc. 8 lin.
Colour.—The upper surface of the shell liver-brown, variegated with rays
and blotches of a colour intermediate between straw and ochre-yellow; the
under surface yellow, with a broad irregular liver-brown band, extending
from the gular plates to the anus. The yellow blotches, which are nine in
number, one towards the centre of each of the dorsal and costal plates,
are very irregular in form, and include not only the whole of the areola,
hut also some portion of each plate in front of it. The rays, all of which proceed
from the areolae, and extend partly towards the outer, partly towards the
inner sides of the plates, are four or five upon each plate, four at least generally
reach to the edges of the plates near their angles; the fifth, where it exists,
is commonly shorter, and situated between the two external rays of each
costal plate. Each marginal plate has two yellow rays, which diverge from
the areola, and approach or actually Teach the point of junction with the
costal plates, diverging as they proceed; the areola and outer edge of each of
the plates are also yellow ; the areola and lateral edges of the caudal plate are
yellow, and from the former, two yellow rays proceed, one to each of its
anterior angles. The brown band, which extends along the under surface, is
very irregular or deeply broken on the edges, and in several places variegated
or clouded by shades of a lighter and brighter tint. Towards the anterior edge
of several of the marginal plates beneath, there is a small brown mark, more
or less pointed posteriorly, and a few others of a similar form proceed inwardly
from the outer margins of the pectoral and costal plates. The top of
the head, and the upper and lower mandibles dusky yellow; the neck greenish-
yellow, freckled with brown. The large scales covering the fore-legs anteriorly
livid-yellow, the smaller ones partly brownish-black, partly greenish-yellow;
hinder legs and tail greenish-yellow; claws a dark horn colour.
Form, &c.—Shell, viewed from above, five-sided, anteriorly truncated,