being broader than long, and the second longer than broad, hut only to a slight degree.
In the young male (Pis. lxii and lxiii), the posterior two-thirds of the lateral
margins of the first vertebral are slightly convergent, and the remaining anterior
third suddenly divergent. The third vertebral has the same breadth in its anterior
half as the two shields anterior to it, hut the sides of its posterior half are convergent,
its posterior border being slightly concave. The anterior border is nearly
straight, whereas the anterior border of the second shield is slightly convex. The
breadth of the third vertebral exceeds its length about one and a half times. The
fourth vertebral is considerably longer than broad, and its greatest breadth is
attained at its middle, both its ends are of nearly the same breadth, and its anterior
border is slightly convex, and its posterior border concave.
The anterior border of the gulars is transverse, and the form of the combined
shields is a broad triangular figure; their common suture equals one-half of the
length of the preanals. The postgul&r suture with the pectorals is posteriorly
convex, and the length of the postgular plates is considerably less than the length
of the pectorals. The pectoro-abdominal suture is also posteriorly convex, but not
so much as in the previous suture. The abdominal plates equal the length of the
preanals and one-half the length of the anals. The anals are about half the length
of the abdominals. The anal notch is wide, but not deep. The lateral ridge in
adolescents assumes the form of an elongated eminence on the side of the pectorals,.
and on the posterior ends of the abdominals.
The portion of the head anterior to the eyes is slightly upturned, the naso-
symphyseal line is moderately oblique and the head moderately broad. The margins
of the jaws are denticulated. The limbs are well developed, and the hind feet rather
broad and the toes are well webbed. Claws 5-4. The limbs sparsely covered, as in
the species generally, by small isolated scales which become large along the outer
margins of the limb and over the toes. The tail is long.
The shell is pale dull greyish-green, strongly marked by three broad black
bands tending to unite posteriorly. The vertebral band begins on the nuchal and
extends on to the caudals ; the lateral bands begin on the posterior portion of the.
first costal and generally unite behind with the vertebral band. Irregular black
parallel streaks or spots occur on the fourth marginal backwards, paling and diminishing
posteriorly. The under surface of the plastron pinkish yellow, with greenish
areas occupying the sides of each plate, separated by yellow intervals.
Head of the animal rich green, with a yellowish tint along the lips. A narrow
black band runs from the nostrils along the mesial line of the upper surface of the head,
somewhat expanded between the eyes, and passes on to the upper surface of the neck.
A narrow black dotted line from the nostrils to the eye. The iris is greenish, with a
pinkish conjunctiva. The green of the head passes into yellowish on the neck.
The tail and the outer surfaces of the limbs are greenish, with a yellowish external
margin; claws pinkish yellow ; the inner surfaces of the limbs are pale fleshy.
Theobald described the head of the male of the animal he referred to B. trivittata
as having the head of a deep flesh-red, or carnation tint, apparently as in B. baska,
in the adult state, which is very different from the waxy-green of the Bhamd
male just described from the living but only adolescent animal, the difference
in head colouring being the result of sexual maturity, either permanent or
seasonal.
Measurements of shell and caudal vertebrae o f B. trivittata, D. 8f B.
'• s ■
Length o f carapace in straight line . * . . . . . . , 17"'50
Length of plastron „ „ . . . \ . . . l&'Qb
Axillary breadth across plastron . . . . . . . . . . 6,/-75
Inguinal „ „ „ . , . . . . . ' . . . &/-l75
Greatest depth of shell . . . . . . . . . . 7V'80
Breadth of shell over greatest curve . . '. . . . . . 16v'50
Length of caudal vertebrae ._ . . . . . . . .■ 7"‘75
The skull is very closely allied to the skull of B. lineata, the two species
having the same form of palate, but the posterior plate of the palate in B. lineata
is much broader than in B. trivittata, and the posterior nares of the former are
narrower than in the latter; also the pterygoid portion of the skull of B. trivittata
is broader than in B . Imeata. The nose of the latter is less upturned than in
B. trivittata, and the muzzle of the latter is narrower, longer, and more pointed; and
the margins of the jaws not so strongly serrated. In general form, it also closely
resembles the skull of B. d/uvaucelli, and in the upturning of its nose is almost
exactly like that species, but its posterior nares are much more open and the palatal
region is separated from that of B. duvaucelli by the narrow character of the poster
rior plate.
I have figured the skull of the young male (PI. lxxvA, figs. 1 to 5).
The small tongue is marked by a slight median groove, on each side of which are
a few blackish oval fleshy ^processes, the most posterior being divided into finger-like
points, and external to this there is, on each side Of the báse of the tongue, a bunch
of these finger-like processes separate from the others. The larynx forms a flattened
triangular eminence, with a longitudinal crenated slit in its centre, the external margins
of the eminence being surrounded by a fringe of processes, like those occurring
on the tongue. Behind the larynx, the first part of the oesophagus is covered to a
limited degree with papillary eminences, as in B. baska, B . thurgi, and in B. duvaucelli.
These become flattened and lamellar in some instances, and close behind the
larynx form two short lines, which, losing their lamellar and papillary character,
rapidly increase in number and assume the form of fine wavy longitudinal mucous
ridges, prolonged into the first part of the stomach as much thicker longitudinal
folds, twelve to fifteen in number, which disappear shortly after entering the
stomach. The stomach is considerably dilated up to the left border of the liver,
and from the longitudinal folds, to this point, is smooth. Its transverse portion, to
below the narrow mesial isthmus of the liver, is funnel-like and with very thick
walls, with muscular coats nearly a quarter of an inch in thickness. At its extremity
this portion of the stomach rapidly contracts into a small pyloric-like orifice, and
its inner surface is marked with about eight somewhat wavy thick longitudinal