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Show 1886.] SOUTH-AFRICAN TORTOISES. 541 1. T E S T U D O G E O M E T R I C A , L. Beak strongly hooked. No large tubercle on the hinder side of the thigh. Lateral marginal plates not forming an angle with the costals. Nuchal longer than broad. Suture between the gulars longer than that between the anals ; suture between the numerals as long as that between the femorals, and much longer than that between the pectorals. Carapace black, with yellow areolae from which yellow rays radiate ; eight or twelve yellow rays on the vertebrals, nine to twelve on the costals, two to four on the marginals. Plastron brown and yellow, the two colours forming more or less ill-defined rays. Common in the Cape Peninsula. 2. TESTUDO TENTORIA, Bell. Beak strongly hooked. An enlarged tubercle on the hinder side of the thigh. Lateral marginals usually not forming an angle with the costals. Nuchal minute. Suture between the gulars as long as, or shorter than, that between the anals ; suture between the numerals longer than that between the pectorals or the femorals. Carapace black, the centre of the areolae with a small yellow or orange spot, from which narrow rays of the same colour radiate; eight to twelve rays on the vertebral, twelve to fourteen on the costals, three or four on the marginals. Plastron brown in the middle (inner half of abdominal plates), yellow on the sides. Common at Beaufort West. 3. TESTUDO TRIMENI, sp. n. (Plate LVII.) Beak very feebly hooked. No enlarged tubercle on tbe hinder side of the thighs. Lateral marginals forming an angle with the costals, a convex border with a well-marked longitudinal groove. Nuchal minute. Suture between the gulars as long as, or shorter than, that between the anals ; suture between the humerals not, or but little, longer than that between the pectorals or the femorals. Carapace black, with broad yellow or orange rays radiating from a small spot on the areolae; five or six rays on the vertebral plates, and tour to eight on the costals; a yellow spot or streak at the junction of two plates ; one or two rays on each marginal. Plastron dark brown in the centre, with yellow rays, yellow on the sides. Length of carapace of adult 105 millim. Mouth of the Orange River. 4. TESTUDO VERREAUXI, Smith. Beak very feebly hooked. No enlarged tubercle on the hinder side of the thighs. Lateral marginals forming an angle with the costals. Nuchal well developed, a little longer than broad. Suture between the gulars as long as that between the anals; suture between the humerals much longer than that between the pectorals or the femorals. |
