OCR Text |
Show 445 MR, F. E. BEDDARD ON THE [Mar. 15, Lettered Abdominal veins.-These veins are seen at then-simplest in the present genus, as also in Iguana. Each vein arises from the femoral vein of its own side, and runs forward within the body-cavity in close attachment to the parietes; the vessel on each side lies in the angle formed by the bending of the parietes to constitute the lateral walls of the body ; they are thus about equally far removed from the mid-dorsal and mid-ventral lines. The veins give off branches to it where they perforate the obliquely-running membrane which supports on each side the bladder, and shuts off the fat-body from the front part of the abdominal cavity. The vessels are visible as far forwards as the end of the lungs, where they become lost in the parietes. There is no superficial connection between these veins and the renal portal veins. The anterior region of the same vein, i. e. the azygos, runs from the jugular along the vertebral column, but on the right side in both specimens, whereas in Iguana, it is on tbe left. It is noteworthy that such a difference in position occurs also among mammals. Text-fig. 94. Alimentary portal system of Tiliqua scincoides. For lettering sec text-fig. 89, p. 439. Ventral Hepctto-parietal veins.-The regular number of these veins in Tiliqua gigas appears to be three ; but in one of the two individuals examined by me there was a very slender additional vein entering the liver just behind the anterior of the three. The last of the three veins, as in Iguana (see p. 440), joins the median epigastric vein, not very far from the entry of the latter into the liver; on its way it gives off one or two branches to the ventral parietes in the middle line. Concerning the middle vein there is nothing particular to be said. The anterior vein is very remarkable, and quite different from the corresponding vein in Iguana. In runs straight from the liver to the ventral parietes, which, however, it perforates in the middle line and behind the |