260 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON THE ANATOMY [June 6, 



vimbilical ligaments and blood-vessels, it is noteworthy that in 

 Eumeces algeriensis two hepatic arteries are associated each with 

 one of the two umbilical ligaments of that lizard. 



Gastrosplenic Omentum. — This mesentery is very conspicuous in 

 'Gerrhoscmrus. It stands out as a free fold with the following 

 . relations : — It arises from the stomach close to the pylorus and 

 passes obliquely downwards svipporting the posterior extremity of 

 the spleen, the rest of which lies upon the mesogastrium ; it is 

 finally attached to the median dorsal line of the body- wall on a 

 level with the left ovary. 



This arrangement is practically repeated in Ilacroscinctts, where, 

 however, owing to the position of the viscera, the omentum is 

 shorter, but very strong and fibrous. Moreover the spleen does 

 not even reach, let alone hang over, the edge, as is the case with 

 Gerrhoscmrus. In Eumeces, however, the gastrosplenic omentum 

 is identical in its relations with that of Gerrhosai(,rits, save that it 

 is a little less pronounced as a free fold. I am not describing 

 here a state of affairs which is merely Lacertilian ; for in Tupi- 

 iiamhis the course and relations of the apparently homologous 

 fold are different and do not involve the spleen. 



Hepato-pidinonary Ligaments. — GerrJioscmrus agrees with the 

 majority of Lizards in that the right lung is suspended by two 

 mesenteries, viz., the hepato-pulmonary and dorsal pulmonary. 

 It is noteworthy that the latter mesentery in the case of both 

 lungs extends to the very tip of the organ ; whereas in Eumeces 

 the mesenteries in question do not reach the extremity of the 

 kings. This is not, however, a characteristic of the Skinks as 

 opposed to Gerrhosaurus, for in Tiliqua the membrane is co- 

 extensive with each lung as in Gerrhosaurus. Mr. Butler * 

 observes that " certain Scincoid lizards are as to the relations of 

 their right lungs and liver intermediate between the Teiidfe and 

 other Lizards." My own knowledge of the family Scincida; 

 enables me to confirm Mr. Butler ; but his accurate statement 

 requires expansion t. In Euvieces, Macroscincus, and Tiliqua 

 there is, in fact, attached to the right lung a pulmo-hepatic liga- 

 ment which is not so extensive as in, e. g., Gerrhosaurits. 



In Maa'oscincus cocteaui this membrane extends rather more 

 than halfway down the lung and ends off upon the dorsal pul- 

 monary ligament, necessarily running in this region in a direction 

 nearly at right angles to the longitvidinal axis of the lung. 

 Whereas in Gerrhosaurus flavigularis the two pulmonary mem- 

 branes join behind the right lungj, in both specimens which I 

 examined. 



The fact that there is no ligamentous interval between the 



* " On the Subdivision of the Body-cavitj' in Snakes," P. Z. S. 1892, p. 481. 



t And has also been expanded by Hochstetter quoted below. 



J Hochstetter (Morph. Jahrb. xxvii. p. 292) figures the same membranes in some 

 other Skinks, where they appear to agree with those of the forms studied by myself. 

 He says, however, of Gerrhosaurus madagdscdrlensis that the " caudal end of the 

 right lung commences to be isolated from the ligamentuni hepato-cavo-pulmonale." 

 It is not so in G-. flavigularis. 



