492 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON THE STRUCTURE [Apr. 27, 
In a third, also a female, the renal veins were asymmetrical, 
but it was otherwise like the second specimen just described. 
The fourth example, a male, was just like the last specimen in all 
the veins the arrangement of which I studied. 
I have preserved the skin of the “ abnormal” example and am 
able to compare it with the skin of the second specimen which I 
have described and with two others. There are, however, no 
reasons for regarding the specimen as of a different species or 
race. It is certainly a good deal smaller, which may of course 
ultimately prove to be a racial or even specific character. But I 
am unable to press this conclusion at present. 
Three examples of J/eles meles differed among themselves. In 
one there was what I term the typicalarrangement. In a second 
the left ovarian vein, instead of opening on to the renal, had 
moved down and debouched directly into the postcaval, but 
above the entrance of the right ovarian vein. In this example, 
moreover, the renals were symmetrical. In a third example the 
renals were also symmetrical. But in this specimen the orifice 
of the right ovarian vein had moved anteriorly and had come to 
open into the postcaval in common with the left ovarian. 
In a female example of Mephitis mephitica (text-fig. 131 C, 
p. 491) I found a condition of the postcaval and its affluent veins 
almost exactly like that of the first specimen of Jctonya of the 
series just described in one important particular, but differing 
in some other details. The point of resemblance between these 
in other respects closely allied Mustelines was the division of the 
posteaval vein postrenally. The division, however, in Mephitis 1s 
more marked than even in Jetonyx. It extends, in fact, further 
forward beyond the entrance of the left renal in Mephitis. Thus 
the left renal pours its blood into the left half of the postcaval, 
while the right renal communicates with the undivided anterior 
region of the postcaval. There are, however, two renals on the 
right side, though only one on the left. The ovarian veins arise 
symmetrically in relation to their position in the body, but 
asymmetrically in relation to the veins with which they are 
connected. The left-hand vein is as usual a branch of the left 
renal vein; the vein of the right opens as usual into the post- 
caval, but at a point exactly opposite to the entrance of the left 
renal and therefore from the right-hand subdivision of the post- 
caval. Jt is noteworthy that here, as in some other cases, the 
right ovarian vein is not a lateral affluent of the postcaval ; it flows 
into that vein on its ventral surface. 
In Bassaricyon alleni, the veins of which I have not referred to 
in my account of the general anatomy of this animal *, the dissec- 
tion of a second specimen enables me to describe the disposition 
of the posteaval and its branches. The two renals are perfectly 
symmetrical and the ovarian veins are disposed in the usual asym- 
metrical fashion. The lumbar veins are double, but unite just 
* P,Z.S. 1900, p. 661. 
