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Show 408 DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE GENERA OF TURTLES. [APR. 1, 2. CEPHALOCHELYS. Head large. Beak very large and strong, with a deep notch on the centre of the margin of the upper edge for the nostrils. Nasal shields very short, broader than long ; the frontal plate elongate, narrow in front; parietal shields moderate, broader than long, many-sided ; occipital shields two, large, with some small scales at the hinder part of the central suture. Four superocular shields on each side; the two front square, rather longer than broad; the two hinder larger, broader than long. The cheeks with a series of four shields on the hinder edge of the orbit, the upper one being the smallest and shortest. The temples with three large shields and some small ones. The alveolar surface of the upper beak with a large diverging ridge on the middle of each side, which is much broader in front (and these are separated from each other by a longitudinal groove), with a pit quite in front of it, for the reception of the hook of the lower jaw, and with a very broad, nearly flat surface behind it. The alveolar surface of the lower beak very deeply concave, with a very sharp high outer edge, and a high acute edge on the inner side, with a central longitudinal prominence crossing the hinder half of the alveolar concavity. The pectoral fins with a large strong claw at the end of the front finger. 1. CEPHALOCHELYS OCEANICA, Gray, Hand-list Tort. p. 91. Unfortunately the British Museum only possesses the head, neck, and fore fins of this Turtle, which was purchased of a dealer, who said it came from the West Coast of America-he believed, Mexico ; so that I cannot describe the rest of the animal, and especially the bones of the back and sternum and the plates with which they are covered. The size of the beak and the shields of the head leave no doubt that it is distinct. 3. ? EREMONIA. Head and fins unknown. Shell elongate, contracted behind, marginal plates seventeen. Two caudal marginal plates very large, square, much longer than broad. Thorax convex on the sides. Vertebral shields in the adult much longer than broad, slightly six-sided, scarcely keeled ; the last very large, as broad as long. 1. EREMONIA ELONGATA, Gray, Hand-list Tort. p. 96. (Fig. 3, dorsal disk.) Caouana elongata, Gray, Cat. Tort. &c. B. M . 1840, p. 53 ; Cat. Sh. Rep. p. 73. Hab. Ocean. The shell of this animal has been in the Museum for more than forty years ; and, though frequently searched for amongst dealers and in museums both British and Continental, I have never been able to |
