Testæ osseæ mensura.
Longitudo dorsi . . .
une. lin.
Latitudo ejusdem . . .
Longitudo sterni . . . .
A ltitu d o ............... 8
I owe to Mr. Leadbeater the knowledge of this beautiful and interesting
species. The figure was taken from a dried specimen in his possession, which,
with his accustomed liberality, he allowed me to describe and to have copied
Since that, Mr. Gray has kindly presented me with a specimen of the shell,
which has been figured in his Illustrations of Indian Zoology. Both these are
evidently very young. The size of the:areolae, and the small extent of ossification
which has taken place in the shell, prove that it must, in its adult state,
be of considerable size ; probably not less than eight or ten inches, in length.
The description which I have given must therefore be considered as provisional,
as it is impossible to say what changes may take place during the growth of
the animal.
There is a very remarkable similarity between this species and that which
I have named Emys orbicularis, to the young of which Mr. Gray has, in his
Synopsis, applied the specific term “ Dhor!’ Looking at the adult state of the
latter species, it would appear almost certain that it must be thé same as the
present, as the differences are similar in general character to those which are
produced by age in other species; but the possession of E. orbicularis in three
different stages of growth, from three inches to more than eight in length,
enables me to decide that they are essentially and strikingly distinct. In the
latter species there is not, even at the youngest period, the least appearance of
hooked spines on the costal areolas, nor are there any denticulations on the
lateral and anterior margin. The colour also is very different, although there
are similar radiations on the sternum.