466 MR. F. E, BEDDARD ON THE [Nov. 28, 
This appears to me to be a reminiscence or a prophecy of the 
forwardly extended portal of Hatteria. 
The anterior abdominal vein gives off on each side before the 
union of its two roots a well-developed lateral abdominal vein, 
so common a feature in the Lacertilia. 
It is a noteworthy fact that some of the venous trunks within 
the liver appear upon the surface of that organ instead of being 
entirely concealed within its substance. Almost the whole of 
the vena cava is thus exposed and a considerable section of the 
hepatic vein. 
Another difference from the conditions usually, if not always, 
to be observed among the Lacertilia is the total absence of dorsal 
parieto-hepatic veins. This might at first appear to be a point of 
likeness to the Crocodilia, among which the absence of these 
veins has been asserted. 
(2) Notes on certain Veins in the Crocodile. 
Parieto-hepatic veins wr Crocodilus acutus.—As there appears 
to be a considerable conflict of opinion as to these veins in the 
Crocodilia, coupled no doubt with actual differences in different 
genera, it is perhaps worth while to record the condition of the 
parieto-hepatic veins in Crocodilus acutus. 
Contrary to what is to be met with in many Lizards and 
Snakes *, this Crocodile has three sets of parieto-hepatic vessels, 
viz. ventral, dorsal, and lateral. The two former alone exist in 
the Squamata, so far as we know at present. 
The dorsal parieto-hepatics exist on both sides of the vertebral 
column. On the left side they are most extensive and have the 
following arrangement :—There are five trunks which correspond 
to as many ribs. The three anterior of these, of which the second 
and third are the stoutest, combine to form a common trunk, 
which enters the liver (naturally the left lobe) near its posterior 
extremity. These vessels, where they emerge from the parietes, 
receive, each one of them, an intercostal. The last of these three 
vessels (7. ¢., that which is most remote from the heart) gives off 
two branches. One of these seems to be of some morphological 
importance ; the other appears to be less important. The latter 
isa branch which joins the last intercostal, which takes a share in 
this section of the hepatic portal system. The vessel in question 
runs along the “diaphragm,” and, receiving the branch already 
referred to, enters the liver independently of the main dorsal 
parieto-hepatic trunk. The branch which I regard as of some little 
morphological importance arises from the bend of the third of the 
first three affluents of the dorsal parieto-hepatic; it receives an 
intercostal and then perforates the dorsal mesentery and joins the 
system of parieto-hepatic vessels of the right side. I regard this 
vessel as of importance because it seems to represent a corre- 
* Tn all snakes, so far as my own experience goes. 
