LYMPHATICS IN TAIL REGION, SCORP.^NICHTHYS 17 



not usuall}' on both, as shown in figs. 4, 6 and 7, there is a com- 

 munication between either the posterior neural lymphatic trunk 

 or the profundus portion of the lateral trunk and the caudal lym- 

 phatic trunk. In several dissections of Scorpsenichthys and in 

 all the Clinocottus series the profundus portion of the lateral 

 trunk spreads out in a sinus on the side of the last centrum, which 

 for the most part extends cephalad and ventrad. In a few dis- 

 sections of Scorpsenichthys this sinus extended to the center of 

 the next to the last centrum, where it sent off a lateral communi- 

 cation to the lateral lymphatic trunk. In these dissections of 

 Scorpsenichthys the ventral prolongation of this sinus comes into 

 such close touch with a fork of the caudal vein that it might be 

 taken to anastomose with it, but such is not the case. In the 

 Clinocottus series from which fig. 3 was reconstructed this sinus 

 was seen to pass between the last vertebra and the left caudal 

 vein, being separated from the vein by a single thin layer. In an- 

 other Clinocottus series in one section, this thin layer was torn 

 in such a manner as to give the appearance of the lymphatic 

 vessel emptying into the vein, and the orifice being guarded by 

 two valves; but in the anterior and posterior sections this layer 

 was complete, there being no evidence of any communication; 

 nor was any to be found in any of the other series, or in any of 

 the dissections of Scorpsenichthys. 



As in other fishes the lateral lymphatic trunk collects a dorsal 

 and ventral intermuscular or transverse lymphatic vessel (figs. 

 1 and 2, Intm.T.) from every intermuscular septum. These 

 vessels are situated superficially directly beneath the ski , in 

 the intermuscular speta, and collect a network from the connec- 

 tive tissue situated between the myotomes and the skin. In the 

 caudal peduncle region they are not continued dorsad or ventrad 

 to anastomose with the dorsal and ventral lymphatic trunks as 

 they do farther cephalad, but anastomose with two vessels which 

 empty into these trunks. 



Except for its caudal ending the distribution of the lateral trunk 

 seems to be about the same for all species, but concerning its 

 caudal termination there appears to be considerable difference 

 in various species, and often for the same species as described by 

 different authors. 



THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ANATOMY. VOL. 11, NO. 1. 



