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 HcMeria. 



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 difierence 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 in 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 {i. e., 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 

 is a 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- 



* In all snakes, so far as mj' own experience goes. 



