Batagur baska, the Batagur, another of the Emydidte of India, is found in the Ganges and Irawadi, abounds at the mouth of the Hoogly ; great numbers are brought to Calcutta, where they are eaten by particular castes, and are even kept for sale in tanks. Dr. Cantor caught one in the sea off Penang, with a small hook baited with a shri mp.
Emyda Ceylonensis, Gray, Shield, Rept. p. 64, tab. 29 A., is one of the Trionycidre, or fresh water turtles. Generally distributed in the lower parts of Ceylon, found in lakes and tanks. Several were kept alive for months in a tub filled with fresh water, fed freely on animal food, and also on bread and boiled rice. A large female laid three eggs, globular, about 1 inch in diameter, with a hard calcareous shell. This and Emys trijuga are put int,o the wells to act the part of a scavenger. Shell, in fresh specimens, smooth ; in drying, the granular surface of the bony shell is apparent.
Trionyx Gangeticus, Car., Regne,Anim., is found in the Ganges and its tributaries, upwards to Nepal ; at Penang, in rivers and on the sea-coast. It is of fierce habits, defending itself dcaperately by biting, and emitting, when excited, a low, hoarse, cackling sound. It appears to be far less numerous at Penang than T. Javanicus and Chitra Indica. Shell 23 inches long.
The great Seychelles tortoise is miscalled Tr. Indica by Gmelin, but under that name 31r. Gray unites no fewer than seven of the supposed species admitted by MNI. Dumeril and Bibron. Accord ing to Dr. Schlegel, the Indian tortoise, probably indigenous to 31adag,asear and the neighbouring ides, has been acclimated in the Gallapagos Isles, in California, and on several other points on the western coast of South America. But Blyth had been assured, on good authority, that numerous specimens kept in gardens in the 3fauritius, have all been brought from the Seychelles Islands in the first instance, that they are still commonly brought from those islands to the 3fauritius, and thence we believe the few in India have been imported. The largest seen in India measures 4 feet 4 inches in length over the curve of the carapace, or 3 feet 5 inches in a straight line ; transversely 4 feet 2 inches over the high arch of ' parapace, or in a diameter line 2 feet 2 inches high ; when not raised upon the legs, i.e. height of shell,
20f inches ; when walking, the alien is lifted fully G inches from the ground, if not more ; circum ference of hind foot, 17i inches.
Chitra Indica, Gray, Shield, Rept. p. 70. Grows to a very largo size, and, like the Trienyx, is (sten by the natives of S. Asia, particularly the Chinese. Found in the Ganges and in its tributaries, up wards into Nepal ; frequent in the catuarien of the Malayan Peninsula, and said to be found in tho Philippine Islands. Specimens weigh 240 pound', ; they are very powerful, and of ferocious habits. Shell measures 37 inchem.
The fourth family, or Chelonidm. are Marino Turtles. Marine turtles are at once distinguished by long, compressed, fin-shaped, non-retractile feet, the. toes being encloe,ed in a common akin, out of which only one or two claws project. The cara pace is broad and much depressed, so that when these animals are on shore and are turned over on their backs, they cannot regain their natural position. They are thoroughly marine animals ; their pinnate feet and their light shells render them the best swimmers in the class of reptiles ; they sometimes live hundreds of miles distant from shore, to which they periodically return, in order to deposit from 100 to 250 soft-shelled eggs, which are buried in the sand. The food of some species consists exclusively of algre ; others subsist upon fish and mollusca. They are found in all the intertropical seas ; sometimes they travel far into the temperate regions. The flesh and eggs of all the species are edible, although the Indian turtles are much less appreciated in thisrespect than those of the Atlantic. At certain seasons, the flesh of Chelonia virgata. acquires poisonous qualities, and instances of death have been ascribed to its use.
Caouana, Gray, has 15 vertebral and costal shields, which are thin and not imbricate. The genus is carnivorous, eating fishes, mollusca, and crustaeea ; comprises an Atlantic species, the loggerhead, which does not appear to extend into the Indian Ocean ; and C. olivacea, confined to the East Indies.