1889.] FAT-BODIES OF THE SAUROPSIDA. 605 
pointing backwards, which in the hinder region extends up the sides 
as far as the kidneys. 
I believe that the views to which I have been led largely agree 
with those of Mr. Beddard’. We agree that the condition in Monitors 
to which he has drawn attention is unlike that in other Lizards and 
well worthy of study. There are, however, certain of his conclusions 
and suggestions which, after a careful examination of Monitors * and 
other reptiles, I am unable to accept. 
Beddard says (1, p. 100): ‘‘In Monitors... .. when the body- 
walls are cut open and reflected, the alimentary viscera are not 
exposed as they are in Iguana. A loose membrane covers the 
viscera; the membrane looks as if it were simply the lining 
peritoneum of the abdominal cavity which had got separated and 
detached from the abdominal parietes; this is, however, not the 
case ; an examination by the aid of the microscope showed clearly that 
a layer of peritoneum covers the abdominal musculature, and is quite 
distinct from the horizontal membrane; in Varanus griseus the 
peritoneal layer was particularly distinct, for the reason that it 
contained numerous pigmented corpuscles... . Zhis horizontal mem- 
brane also separates the kidneys from the reproductive glands; the 
latter lie internally to it ; the kidneys are placed outside it.” 
The italics in the above quotation are mine, and serve to indicate 
the passages to which I would call attention. 
It is certain that the space surrounding the fat-bodies and 
separated from the peritoneal cavity containing the intestines, by 
the ‘horizontal’? membrane that wraps round these, is not due 
merely to some accidental or post-mortem separation of this mem- 
brane from the body-wall; and that the space in question, which I 
will term the circumadiposal cavity (ca.c, in figs. 14-17), is lined by 
a smooth membrane which covers the body-wall, and is reflected to 
form the exterior layer of the so-called ‘‘ horizontal membrane.” 
I presume that, in saying that the microscope shows this lining 
membrane to be peritoneum, Beddard merely means that it forms a 
natural free surface, and is not a rough line of parting produced by 
a tear. More than this the microscope could not well prove ; nor 
does the presence of pigment do so, since pigment, though common 
in the peritoneal lining of the body-cavity,is not confined to this layer. 
It may occur in the more external and muscular layers of the body- 
wall, as can be seen in transverse sections of Snakes. 
Now, in no reptile examined have I observed any connection 
between the peritoneal cavity proper and the circumadiposal 
cavities; and since (as Beddard, judging by his paper (1, p. 100), 
would admit) the circumadiposal cavities of the Monitors are 
homologous with the inconspicuous spaces round the fat-bodies in 
other Lizards, which there is no good reason to regard as parts of 
the peritoneal cavity, I hold that until such a connection shall 
1 T would acknowledge the kind and practical interest that Mr. Beddard has 
taken in my work. 
* IT haye examined two specimens of Varanus indicus, two of V. nigro- 
punctatus, and some ten small specimens of V. niloticus. 
