1904.] ANATOMY OF THE LACERTILIA. 21 



I think it desirable to call attention as tending to emphasise the 

 peculiarities of the Geckonidse as compared with other families of 

 Lizards. As to the apparent differences between Tarentola and 

 Phelsitvia, I am unable at present to lay much stress upon 

 them. The arterial system shows one important agreement with 

 that of Fhelsuma. There are, in fact, three small gastric arteries 

 supplying the stomach exclusively which in both genera have 

 precisely the same arrangement ; that is to say, there is one 

 atiterior artery, followed after a considerable interval by the two 

 next which are close together. 



But Tarentola has not a gastrosplenic artery arising after these- 

 and before the origin of the coeliac, such as that which is present 

 in Phelsuma. 



I did not observe in Phelsibma — but I do not assert that it does 

 not exist — a lateral artery on either side present in Tarentola^ 

 This artery is in effect a series of anastomoses between the ex- 

 tremities of the intercostal arteries which arise from the aorta 

 and run along the ribs towards the ventral middle line. Whether 

 it is to be compared to the epigastric artery of either side or not, 

 I do not know. 



The hepatic portal sjjstem and the single median epigastric vein 

 are almost exactly like the con-esponding veins of Phelsimia. 

 I found, however, only a single parieto-hepatic vessel. The 

 epigastric is connected anteriorly with the vena cava, as in 

 Phelsuma. 



Suprarenal Portals. — Each supi'arenal body has, as in Phelsumay 

 two afferent veins. The anterior vein of the left suprarenal body 

 passes backwards to it, arising from the side of the vertebral 

 column. This is exactly what I observed in Phelsuma. 



The azygos vein is as in the last genus. 



The lateral abdominals appear to be rather shoi-ter than in 

 Phelsuvia. plunging at once into the thickness of the parietes. 



Resume. 



It may be useful to state in a few words the chief new facts 

 contained in this communication. 



The most noteworthy new features in the vascular system of 

 the Chamaeleon as compared with those of other Lizards are ; — 



(1) The large number of gastric arteries situated in pairs and 

 supplying right and left sides of the viscus. 



(2) The connection of the longitudinal oviducal vein with the 

 hepatic portal system, of which it is an affluent apparently not 

 represented in some other Lizards. 



(3) The entire restriction of the dorsoventral oviducal veins to 

 the efferent renal and to its forward prolongation the anterior 

 vertebral. In Iguana, for instance, these veins open partly into 

 the afferent renal. 



(4) The absence of conspicuous foi'wardly ruxaning lateral 

 epigastrics. , . . . .- . 



