cold season in lethargy: they revive about the middle of spring, and then return to the water, and resume their active habits.

The general colour of the carapace is dusky black or reddish brown, agreeably ornamented with spots or streaks of yellow, radiating from the centre of each plate. The plastron is yellow, sometimes variegated with chesnut brown. Total length about ten inches. The Testudo lutaria, T. pulchella, T. meleagris, T. flava, and T. orbicularis, are mere varieties of this species; and the Hellenic emys, figured in the French work of the "Commission de Morée," is specifically the same.

GENUS EMYS.

Passing to the genus Emys, which includes many species, we may observe, that the characters of this group are as follow:-Fore feet with five toes, hind feet with four; plastron broad, immoveable, solidly united to the carapace, and covered with twelve plates; head of the ordinary size; tail long. As examples of this genus, we may notice the following species.

The CASPIAN EMYS, (Emys Caspica.)-This Tortoise abounds in the countries bordering on the Caspian Sea, and inhabits also Dalmatia and the Morea, where it is not uncommon. M. Bory St. Vincent found it in most of the shallow waters of the Greek peninsula. Its habits resemble those of other marsh Tortoises, and it lives on insects, small fishes, etc.

The carapace is of an olive tint, marked with winding confluent lines of a golden yellow, bordered with black, forming a sort of irregular network. The plastron is black, more or less variegated with yellowish. The head and neck are ornamented with yellow lines; three on the latter being edged with black: yellow lines also run down the limbs, and over the tail.

An allied species, the SIGRIZ EMYS, (Emys Sigriz,) is a native of the Mediterranean coast of Africa, and also of

G

Spain. Among the American species of this genus, which are very numerous, we select the following.

The SALTWATER TERRAPIN, (Emys concentrica.)— This Emys is found both in North and South America, but more commonly in the former, where it extends from New York to the Floridas. It is generally known by the name of the Saltwater Terrapin, because it gives preference to saline marshes, and in some districts is very abundant. It is in great request, its flesh being highly esteemed as a delicacy for the table, especially at the close of the summer, when the animals have retired to their winter dormitory. They are then fat, and considered as a luxury. At this season they are easily captured; some are surprised on land, preparing to bury themselves; others are disinterred from their winter asylum. During the summer, however, they are not to be caught without difficulty, for the extensive salt marshes of Carolina, where they are extremely numerous, afford them a secure asylum. In these marshes, when the sun is glowing brightly over head, shoals of Saltwater Terrapins may be seen crowded together on the mouldering trunks of fallen trees, half floating, half buried in the mud; and assemblages may be observed on little mounds of earth, which rise above the water, there basking in the genial rays. They are very shy and timid, and on the approach of an enemy, plunge into the water, and disappear.

There are several varieties of this Tortoise, with respect to colour and the disposition of the markings; the general colouring, however, is as follows:-The large scale covering the top of the head is black, or green, the rest of the head is green mottled with black. A greenish tint, irregularly dotted with black, pervades the neck, limbs, and tail. The iris is yellow, the pupil black. The plates of the carapace are olive green, with concentric lines of brown, forming irregular circles. The plates of the plastron are yellow, also marked with lines of brown following their contour. Total length about ten inches.

The DECUSSATED EMYS, (Emys decussata.)-This

elegant Tortoise is a native of St. Domingo, but of its habits in its native island little is known. From Mr. Bell, who has observed many living examples in this country, we learn that it is extremely voracious, greedily devouring flesh, and attacking frogs and fishes with great avidity. The carapace is of an oval form, convex, and slightly keeled; its colour is of a uniform yellow.

The

plates are marked with concentric ridges, or linear elevations and furrows, intersected by similar lines radiating from the centre of each plate, and hence the specific title "decussated."

The PAINTED EMYS, (Emys picta.)-Of all the Emydes, this is the most essentially aquatic; so much so indeed, that it soon perishes if removed from the water. It inhabits stagnant ponds or lakes, and is never found in streams or rivers. It is very common in the United States of America, but, from the ill-flavour of its flesh, is never used as food.

We have known several instances of this Tortoise being kept alive in England. In warm weather they were very lively, swimming about the vessel of water in which they were preserved; they seemed to enjoy the rays of the sun, and would float with the head just emerging from the shell, or remain on the edge of the vessel, with the carapace out of the water, luxuriating in the genial temperature. Raw meat, cut small, was eagerly devoured. They passed the winter in a torpid state, in a box filled with cotton or flannel, to which they retired, or in which they were placed when signs of dulness appeared.

The carapace is considerably depressed, the plates are of a deep brown, those of the centre having the anterior margin beautifully bordered with yellow, and a double line of black; the side plates are similarly ornamented, both on their upper and anterior edge: the plastron is yellow, the head and neck are black, elegantly marked with oblong streaks and lines of fine yellow. When young, the Painted Emys is circular in its contour, rather than oval.

Only one species of Emys belongs to Africa, namely,

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SPENGLER'S AND THREE-KEELED EMYS. [ORDER 1.

SPENGLER'S EMYS (E. Spengleri;) and it appears to be a native of Bourbon and the Mauritius, and not of the continent. In the warmer regions of Asia, as India and China, several species of this genus are indigenous; but, excepting that they agree in general habits with the rest of their race, little, as it respects their modes of life, is known. One of the most common of the Indian species is the THREE-KEELED EMYS, (E. trijuga.)

Passing by the genus Tetraonyx, which contains two species belonging to India, and the genus Platysternon, of which one species only is known, which is a native of China, and remarkable for the enormous size of its head, in proportion to the body, we come to the genus Emysaurus.

GENUS EMYSAURUS.

The genus Emysaurus, (Chelydra, Schweigger,) of which only one species is recognised, is characterized by the head being large, and covered with small plates; the upper mandible hooked; two

small wattlelike excrescences below the under mandible; by the plastron not being moveable, of a cross-like shape, (see annexed figure; a, the plastron,) and covered with twelve plates; by the tail being extremely long, compressed, and surmounted by a ridge of strong scales, as in the crocodile.

The limbs are very robust, and the nails of the toes are strong, hooked, and sharp.

Although the head is of great size, it is capable of being withdrawn beneath the carapace; but not so the tail and limbs.

The ALLIGATOR TORTOISE, (Emysaurus serpentinus, Bibron; Chelydra serpentina, Schweigger.)