1921.) © % Venous System of Varanus bengalensis. 259. 
efferents and their junction posteriorly to form a loop raises 
the question whether in Varanus this is a primitive condition 
or what is more possible a secondary formation owing to the 
great. divarication of the kidneys away from the median line. 
Since, I. have not: yet got any embryological evidence, I am 
not in a:position to put forward any opinion on the above. 
Hepatic portal system.—The main trunk (fig. 4, h.p v.) of 
this system. takes its origin posteriorly from two very promi- 
nent veins (fig. 5, br.h.p.v.) lying on the two sides of the 
rectum. The most interesting thing about it is that these 
two. posterior veins take their origin directly from the posterior 
end.of the renal portal vein, and are nearly as thick in calibre 
as the latter, thus establishing a direct communication be- 
tween the renal portal and hepatic portal system. Such c 
nections ‘however, are known to exist, e.g. in some Teleosts 
and the Dipnoi, but the connecting veins in the latter are 
comparatively thinner and connect generally the caudals with 
the hepatic portal veins, and are not such conspicuous blood 
vessels as in this case.’ 
Renal. Portal. vein.—The .cauda] vein divides into two 
veins, Each of these branches is continued forward into the 
the anterior abdominal and hepatic portal veins. The kidney 
is supplied with blood brought mostly from the tail region 
and this accounts for the, comparative thinness of the renal 
portal veins. § ae se : 
LITERATURE 
1... Beddard, F; E.».. Contributions to ne Anatomy of the 
| 7 i 
Lacertilia (1). Proc:~ Zool. Soc. 
Lacertilia (3). Proc. Zool. Soc. 
London; 1904, Vol. II, pp:-2-5. 
facil set Aral -, Some Notes on the Anatomy of the 
Yellow-throated Lizard, G errhosaurus 
flavigularis. Proc ool. Soc. London, 
Lh aot 1 i i6. 
5. ; ». Some Additions to the Knowledge 
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