BLOOD-VASCULAR SYSTEM OF THE LORICATI I03 
and an anterior intestinal vein. Soon after leaving the spleen, 
in front of the corresponding artery, the sp/enzc vein (fig. 31, 
Spl.V.) receives the posterior gastric vein (fig. 31, P.Gas.V.) 
from therear. This vessel arises from the ventral surface of the 
stomach immediately behind the pylorus, and receives a small 
branch coming from the ventral surface of the posterior end of 
the intestine. After receiving this branch the posterior gastric 
vein passes between the spleen and the ceca and joins the splenic 
vein. The splenic vein in Sebastodes auriculatus after crossing 
intestinal vein,.), and intestinal artery,.) unites with the right gas- 
tric component, directly below intestinal vein,,,, to form the main 
right portal. Shortly before entering the liver the right portal 
receives a small branch coming from a gland-like body marked 
G (figs. 33 and 34), anastomoses with the common portal trunk 
(which will be fully described under the head of the left portal), 
and in its course in the right lobe of the liver receives the azte- 
rior gall-bladder vein. This vessel (figs. 33 and 34, A.G.BI.V.) 
is always present, and sometimes returns the entire blood from 
the gall-bladder. Its course is to the right and above the 
ductus choledochus. 
(d) Left portal vein in Hexagrammos, Scorpenichthys, and 
Sebastodes. —In Hexagrammos the two pyloric ceca veins are 
essentially the same as in Ophiodon, except that neither of them 
receives a posterior gastric vein from the cardiac end of the 
stomach. Close to its origin from the two pyloric czca veins 
the /eft portal (PI, 1V, figs, 27 and 28; L.Por.V.) receives a 
branch from the anterior arm of the ileum, designated as intes- 
tinal vein, (fig. 27, Int.V..)), but which perhaps corresponds 
to an elongated anterior intestinal or duodenum vein. On the 
dorsal surface of the liver the left portal breaks up into 3 radi- 
cals (figs. 27 and 28, a, 6 and c). Radical a is prolonged to 
anastomose with the right portal, and soon after leaving the 
main stem receives a very large ventral gastric vein (fig. 28, 
V.Gas.V.), which may to some extent take the place of the 
absent left gastric vein. 
In Scopenichthys the left portal (Pl. IV, figs. 29 and 30; 
L.Por.V.) receives both of the intestinal veins. The pyloric 
czeca veins are essentially the same as in Ophzodon, except that 
