38 ANATOMY OF A CHELONIAN. 



the tip of the blow-pipe, and inflate the veins with air. 

 By repeating this procedure from time to time, as re- 

 quired, the dissection of the venous system is greatly 

 facilitated. 



81. Trace the rent-mortal division of the femoral vein 

 on one side till it penetrates the muscles lying in the 

 groin-hollow. Then, turning the leg and tail over to 

 the opposite side, divide the skin between them and the 

 carapace, and search in the hollow between leg and 

 thigh for the large caudal vein; trace this up till it 

 joins the reni-portal. 



82. Beginning a short way behind the heart, divide 

 the peritoneum in the middle line from before back ; a 

 short distance in front of the pelvis it turns away toward 

 the dorsal side, so that the peritoneal cavity does not 

 extend to the posterior end of the trunk, nor does the 

 peritoneal membrane line the pelvis, being merely re- 

 flected over the anterior end of the urinary bladder^ 

 which will be seen projecting forward from the pelvic 

 cavity. 



83. Remove the ventral portions of the peritoneum 

 and pericardium, cutting the former away carefully 

 from around the anterior abdominal veins and the 

 branches entering them, so as to leave the vessels intact. 

 Note the bladder veins, which enter the cross branch 

 uniting the two anterior abdominal trunks near the 

 pelvis, (79, b). 



84. Putting your thumbs under the coracoid bones, 

 turn both halves of the pectoral arch forward, tearing 

 the ligamentous attachment of the scapula to the cara- 



