468 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON THE [Eov. 28, 



interna," does describe such vessels as I have dealt with above ; 

 but his descriptions do not tally exactly with the facts which 

 I have observed, and it is not clear to what species or even to 

 what genus his observations refer. 



There are also ventral parieio-hepatic veins connected with the 

 epigastric vein, which are but slightly dealt with by Rathke * and 

 not figured by Jacquartt. These are most conspicuous in the case 

 of the right lobe of the liver. They are partly directly connected 

 with the right epigastric vein and partly enter the ventral parietes 

 separately. There ai'e three of these vessels, which arise from a 

 slender superficial vein running along the ventral surface of the 

 liver and continuous with the anterior abdominal vein posteriorly. 

 The first of these ventral parieto-hepatic veins {i. e., that nearest 

 to the breast) divides into three branches, of which one joins the 

 epigastric and the others plunge into the ventral parietes 

 separately. The second vein is at about the middle of the liver 

 and joins the epigastric. The third is really given off from the 

 anterior abdominal before it entei's the liver and joins the 

 epigastric. 



On the left side there is only one of these veins corresponding 

 in position to the stronger and middle one of the three on the 

 right side. 



(3) Notes on the Vascular System o/" Ophisaurus. 



The most recent memoir known to me which deals with the 

 blood-vessels of Ophisaurus apiis (Pseudoptts pallasii) is by 

 Prof. Hochstetter J, whose notes refer entirely to the venous 

 system of that Saurian. Some earlier works upon comparative 

 anatomy, such as those of Siebold and Stannius §, contain various 

 facts relating to the blood-vessels. But I find that the recorded 

 knowledge of the course of the arteries and veins in this Lizard 

 is practically confined to Rathke's extensive memoir 1 1 and to 

 Hochstetter, and does not enable us to draw up anything like a 

 complete account of the vascular system. I have therefore 

 thought it desirable to utilise a thoroughly injected example of 

 this Lizard, which was treated immediately after death, for the 

 purpose of a further contribution to the knowledge of the vascular 

 system in Lizards, which matter has been for some time occupying 

 my attention. 



The origin of the several aortic trunks from the ventricle is as 

 in other Lacertilia and a detailed description of the same is 

 therefore unnecessary here. The carotids show certain pecu- 

 liarities which are worth noting. The cai'otid arteiy arises from 

 the carotid arch just where it turns over to join the systemic 

 arch of its own side in a fashion which does not appear to 



* Loc. clt. t Zioc. cit. 



X '■ Veiiensystem der Amnioten," Morph. Jahrb. xix. 1893, p. 475. 

 § Handbuch der Zootomie, 2 Theil, Amphibien (Berlin, 1856), p. 225. 

 il " Die Aorteiiwiivzel der Saurier," Denkschr. Akad. Wien, xiii. (1857). 



