format, a mari tam parum remotam, ut hujus accessus et recessus in ilia ani-
madverti possit. Hie vivat animal, et cum homines adpropinquantes audiat,
repente saltando quasi in aquam salit. Agile est, et ambulans sive natans,
caudam exsent, et collum in altum tollit ; resupinatum in marte proprio, cele-
riter resurgit, et interdum vocem tenuissimam edit. Degit quoque in His-
pania.”
This Author is mistaken in considering Testudo scripta of Schcepff, as the
young of this species 5 it is- undoubtedly the young of JE/mys scwa!a.
This animal varies considerably at different periods of life, and, as it would
appear, also from climate and other local circumstances.” When very young,
the head, neck and feet are marked with reddish lines and dots, which become
yellow as the animal reaches the adult period; and there are also at that time
red markings on the dorsal and marginal plates, which become obsolete
and at length wholly disappear. In the oldest specimens there is no marking
whatever upon the shell, which is of a dirty greenish olive.colour. In the
Asiatic specimens, as we see from Waglers figure, the yellow lines are brighter
and larger than in others. -
There is a peculiarity in many individuals which almost entitles them
to be considered as a distinct variety; this is a rugose state of the dorsal
plates, with three distinct carinae,-^one along the middle of the vertebral
plates, and one on each side on the upper part of the dorsal. .. These characters
always exist in a greater or less degree in the young animal ; but I have
also several specimens of adult age in which it still continues very strongly
marked. Mr. Gray has given a representation of a shell in this state, in his
Synopsis.
The sternum is no less liable to variation. In some it is pale greenish or
olive, clouded with yellow; in others, it is almost wholly black; and there are
others with almost every intermediate shade and hue.
m m