Jávorka Sándor - Soós Lajos (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 29. (Budapest 1935)
Fejérváry, G. J.: Further contributions to a monograph of the Megalanidae and fossil Varanidae - with notes on recent Varanians
which this feature becomes dulled again, giving place, in the very last vertebrae, to a tiny, knob-like formation. As regards the occurrence of chevron-bones (haemapophyses), these are, to remain at the example rather accidentally chosen in V. griseus, absent in the first caudal, beginning with the second only, and obtaining then in every member of the caudal scale, marked even in the smallest of terminal vertebrae. The consideration of these statements may bear upon the topographical identification of the Wellington Caves Reserve vertebra, in which we have to note, furthermore, the considerable development of the upper median part of the neural arch turning into the proc. spinosus, a feature especially prevailing in the caudad aspect of the bone (cfr. ETHERIDGE, op. cit. Pl. AllI, Fig. 3), as well as the very remarkable perimeter of the (almost completely preserved right) processus transversus' swollen base. These details give raise to the suggestion that the remain here dealt with is most likely to be a s e c o n d sacra 1, or, perhaps, as pointed out above, one of the very anterior caudals, or, finally — what seems to be the less probable — a member of the dorsolumbal division. Mr. ETHERIDGE'" has also published the measurements of the vertebra in question, unfortunately not according to the international metric scale, but in inches. The specimen is pretty large, it belongs, thus, to an adult individual, the centre measuring 3 inches, i. e. 76T mm, in length. The substance of this statement is in full accordance with our knowledge about the metric conditions obtaining in Megalania, and its being somewhat shorter than the centrum of dorsals belonging to series more rostrad in position, strengthens, by means of analogies gathered from modern Reptiles, especially Varanians, the suggestion that it may be looked upon as a second sacral (or one of the very first caudals?). The ..Vertical, or longitudinal, diameter of ball" measures 1 inch & V2 i. e. 18.15 mm, whilst its transverse diameter measuring 1 & 5 / 8 of an inch, i. e. 41.27 mm; the difference between its height and breadth results thus, in 3.12 mm. in the anterior dorsal our Museum received from Mr. LONGMAN, the vertical (correctly subvertical) diameter of ball measures 41.4 mm, and the transversal 52.8 mm, the difference between the two diameters consisting in 11.4 mm, what means that the difference between height and breadth of ball is, in the anterior dorsal examined, but 8.28 mm more than it is in the presumable llnd sacral described by Mr. ETHERIDGE. Despite of this trifling metricalaberration in the proportion between height and width of the ball in 90 Op. cit. p. 130. Annales Musei Nationsiis llungaiici XXIX. 2
