OCR Text |
Show 1869.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE TORTOISES. 167 They may be divided into sections thus :- Section I. Sternal shields 12, regularly arranged in pairs on each side of the central line. Pectoral plates large, like the others. A. The inguinal plates moderate ; the nostrils in a square fleshy nose, between the upper edge of the beak and the frontal plates ; thorax solid. TESTUDININA. 1. T E S T U D O . Gular plates separate. Claws 4 . 5. Alveolar plate with two ridges. 2. PELTASTES. Gular plates separate. Claws 4 . 5. Alveolar plate with an indistinct ridge. 3. H O M O P U S . Gular plates separate. Claws 4. 4. 4. PYXIS. Gular plates separate. The front lobe of the sternum mobile. 5. C H E R S I N A . Gular plates united and produced. B. The inguinal plates very large; the nostrils in a notch on each side of the upper edge of the beak ; thorax, hinder part mobile. KlNIXYINA. 6. KINIXYS. Section II. Sternal shields 10, arranged in five pairs. The two pectoral shields small, short, triangular, far apart, on the sides at the hinder edge of the axillae. M A N O U R I N A. 7. M A N O U R I A . This genus, before the animal was known, was erroneously arranged in Emydidee. 1. TESTUDO. The skull has a well-developed zygomatic arch. The palate is deeply concave, especially in front; and there are three more or less distant, narrow, elevated, parallel longitudinal ribs on it behind the internal nostrils, which are placed in front of the palate. The alveolar margin of the upper jaw broad, with two ridges parallel to and as long as the outer margin of the beak. The central ridge is divided into conical teeth ; the inner marginal ridge higher and with a more even edge. The nostrils are placed in a more or less square fleshy muffle, which is situated on the upper edge of the horny beak. The genus may be divided into two sections by the form of the alveolar surface of the lower jaw :- a. Lower jaw narrow, with a deep groove extending the whole length of the edge ; front of upper jaw with a central notch and two slight prominences. T E S T U D O. Testudo indica, T. planiceps, T. tabulata, T. radiata. b. Lower jaw narrow in front, with a short deep groove as long as the hinder half of the outer margin. SCAPIA. T. (Scapia) falconeri. |