across between tbe third and fourth costáis. A vertebral ridge in the young rising
into two prominent nodosities on the posterior margin of the seoond and third
vertebráis. In adults, the ridge all but disappears, but the nodosities are visible; or
the ridge is most marked on the first and last vertebráis and caudal. Caudal notch well
defined in the adult females, but apparently less so in the males. Nuchal a™ »11 and
triangular, pointed in front and broad behind. The first vertebral is more elongated
than in the young, and in some it has a distinot hour-glass form, but in others the
anterior half of the hour-glass is much more contracted than the posterior half.
In this form it strongly resembles the first vertebral of JB. thnrgi. Its shape varies
considerably, as it is sometimes only as broad as long, while in others it is much
longer than hroad. The suture between the first and second vertebráis is always
transverse. One of the most characteristic features of the vertebráis is the pointed
posterior extremity of the second plate, which projects inwards into the third plate
with a central nodosity. This plate is broader anteriorly than posteriorly, and its
hreadth may equal its length, or it may be broader than long. The character of
this plate in the adult (in some young examples the hackwardly pointed form of
the second vertebral is not so well defined), enables the species at once to be distinguished
from the other two species of black-lined Batagurs, B. trimttata and
-B. tJmrgi, in both of which the sutures between the first and second, and second
and third vertebráis are transverse. There are many other features by which they
can be^ separated, but these shield characters suffice to distinguish 3 . dmcmceUi.
The third vertebral is deeply emarginate on its anterior border, and its greatest
length equals its hreadth. The fourth vertebral is long, with a transverse suture
between it and the plate before and behind it, and it is generally a little narrower
anteriorly than posteriorly, and in this is like 3 . lineata. In the character of its
second vertebral, it is closely approached by the so-called genus Bamgshwa. The
greatest breadth of this plate falls short of its length, and its general character is
to be dilated at its middle, and slightly contracted at its ends. In B. thurgi, this
plate is short and broad, while in B. trimttata it is long as in 3 . dtmaucelK, and in 3 .
iravadica it is also somewhat long, as in 3 . lineata, its Western representative.
The fifth vertebral is broader than long, with a somewhat rounded anterior margin,
equalling about one-half the length of the plate, and with a nearly straight,
sinuous, or posteriorly concave fourth oostal border. I t is in contact with a «mail
portion of the tenth marginal.
In the young, the posterior margin of the shell is strongly serrated from
the eighth to the twelfth marginal, hut this serration entirely disappears in the
adult.
The carapace of the male is considerably more depressed, and not so deep as the
carapace of the female.
The sternum of the male is narrower and more elongated anteriorly than in
females of the same size, and has a less axillary and inguinal hreadth. The sternal
ridge is well developed in the young, but disappears with age, and is obsolete in
females measuring 7"' 11, with a faint trace of it in males a little larger than this.
The gulars are abruptly truncated anteriorly, their free marginal breadth equalling,
or nearly equalling, twice their length. The length of the postgulars is one-
fifth less than the length of the pectorals, and the latter are about one-third shorter
than the abdominals which equal the pectorals and two-thirds of the postgulars.
The preanals are about the same length as the pectorals, and the anals are two-thirds
as long as the preanals. The anal notch is broadly orescentic. In the young, the
proportions are different; the gulars are as long as the postgulars, the preanals as
long as the pectorals and nearly one-half of the postgulars; the abdominal nearly
equalling the pectoral and postgulars together.
The muzzle is short, moderately broad and upturned, with a feeble concavity
between the anterior angle of the eyes; the breadth between the eyes, anteriorly and
above, considerably exceeding the distance between their anterior angles and the
tip of the muzzle. The nostrils are close together, round, and directed forwards,
upwards and outwards. The eye is of moderate size. The jaw is serrated, with
two somewhat larger anterior teeth; the margin of the upper jaw is downwardly
convex, and slightly upwardly curved posteriorly. A large quadrangular plate
behind the eye, with one narrow elongated plate below it, partially broken up into
smaller plates, between it and the gape. A large plate above the tympanum,
with some smaller transverse plates above i t ; the plates of the opposite side
nearly separated from each other hy the posterior extremity of the great plate
of the vertex. Skin of the neck very finely granular, which is the character of the
skin generally, with the following exceptions : on the inner half of the lower portion
of the fore limb there are a series of separate, moderately-sized narrow transverse
raised plates, with five large flat plates on the membranous posterior margin of this
portion of the limb, with two to four obscure small plates on the dorsum of each
toe, on both pairs of limbs. On the hind leg there is a small group of enlarged
transverse separate plates on, and near the hind margin. A transverse row of three
small plates on the under surface of the wrist, with a small patch of raised sharp
plates on the inner surface of the heel. The tail is more granular than the rest of
the skin, and is set with spiniferous granules. The tail of the male is considerably
longer than that of the females and projects much beyond the carapace. The claws,
five anteriorly and four posteriorly, are moderately long, and the wehs of the toe!
are broad and full.
There is an indistinct pale-yellowish, almost white hand, between the eyes over
the nostril, continued more or less over the superior posterior angle of the orbit, and
from behind the orbit, over the tympanum. The upper jaw is yellowish, tinged with
green about the nostrils. A broad leaden band through the eye, in the young, to the
angle of the mouth and embracing the tympanum, very obscure or absent in the adult.
A feeble greenish band from the chin along the throat in the young, disappearing or
becoming feeble with age. The upper surface of the head and neck is olive-brown,
with a more olive hue on the neck, which is also the colour of the upper surface of the
limbs. The sides of the neck have a few obscure palish spots, and the under jaw and
chin, throat, and neck are pale yellowish. The under surface of all the remain