Horváth Géza (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 16. (Budapest 1918)
Fejérváry, G.J.: Contributions to a Monography on fossil Varanidae and on Megalanidae 16
372 G. J. DE FEJÉKVÁKY Grive-St.-Alban (Dép. de l'Isère}, in France. This interesting fossil was bought by the Geological Institute for 50 centimes (!) from the «Comptoir Minéralogique et Géologique Suisse, Genève» as a Varanus vertebra, and proved in truth referable to this genus. After having determined the fragment in question, for greater security's sake I sent it. without further information to Mr. F. SIEBENROCK in Vienna, our present highest capacity in reptilian osteology, w r ho returned the vertebra w r ith the definition: «Epis-tiopheus von Varanus.» It is owing to the place of its origin that this fossil Varanus vertebra deserves first of all especial notice. As has been alluded to,among the most interesting fossils obtained at La Grive-St .-Alban, JOURDAN already mentions the genus Varanus, without however DEPÉRET (op. cit. p. 65 & 289) either finding the JOURDAN oiiginal «fragment avec trois dents de la mâchoire supérieure», nor any newer remains, so that, as far as I am informed, this would be the second data regarding the occurrence of Varanus at La Grive. Considering that as regards V. Gayluxi and V. Hofmanni I was obliged, to limit my investigations to drawing s, an exact specific determination of the vertebra was not possible. In my opinion however it would not be referable to a new species, but rather to V. Cayluxi, or perhaps V. Hofmanni, the latter mentioned merely on account of its Miocene origin, a morphological comparison with V. Hofmanni appearing as yet of rather speculative nature, since no cervical vertebra of this species is hitherto known, a connexion with it appearing otherwise doubtful from a geographical point of view. Whereas from a biological point of view the fact of Varanus Cayluxi h a v i n g been found at Quercy seems to allow the easily justifiable conclusion to the presence of the same species in the Département de l'I s è r e also; and, as far as morphological characters are concerned, a comparison with those apparent on the epistropheus of V. Cayluxi (Textfig. 3a) fails to bring out any sufficient cause for separating from this species the La Grive remain. As however, on the other hand, no due reason could here justify a positive identification, I provisionally define the fossil under the name of «Varanus cf.? Cayluxi FILH.». The epistropheus in question shows the following morphological conditions : Centre of medium length; bluntly, but distinctly keeled on lower surface (margo inferior mihi). Condyle medium sized, but slightly projecting, the lower hemisphere rounded, the upper one nearly straight, the ball being thus directed upwards ; latter one viewed from backwards horizontally oval. Processus odontoideus broken, the damaged region pre-
