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
842 G, J. DE FEJ ÉR VÁR Y of most Reptiles have heretofore scarcely been entrusted to competent hands, and a new habitat, a slightly varying stratum or even bones belonging to different portions of the body yet deriving from the same species have furnished reasons to geopalaeontologists not possessing sufficient special zoological knowledge, for establishing new species or even new genera. However, thanks to the progress of science,, palaeontology has to day, as most suitable to its nature, fallen into the hands of zoologists, who might, it is true, be recommended slightly more expertness in geology, palaeogeography and palaeoclimatology, when attempting to settle questions of palaeontological order. This w r ould enable everyone to embrace within the narrower frame of specialized studies the fossil representatives of the corresponding class. The first fossil reptile of Europe which was taken for Varanus originated from the upper Permean and was described by CUVIER in 1808 under the name of Monitor fossilis 1 , afterwards defined as belonging to the Proterosaurus genus. 2 Eater, in 1853, POMEL described a V. lemanensis (Catal. method, et descriptif des Vert. foss. du Bassin de la Loire, Paris) which is also mentioned by H. v. MEYER in his treatise (p. 76) on the «La cert en a. d. Braunkohle d. Siebengebirges» 3 published in 1860. This reptile — presenting dermal ossifications 4 — originated from the Oligocène strata and is alluded to by Baron XOPCSA in his highly valuable synoptic notes «Zur Kenntn. d. foss. Eidechsen» 5 as an «Anguinide Form.» So much in any case may be regarded as doubtless that the fossil in question has nothing in common with the Varanidae. In 1862 GATJDRY in his «Animaux fossiles et GéoL de l'Attique» (Paris 1862-67) describes (p. 318—19) a «reptile du groupe des Varans» from the lower Pliocene of Pikermi, to which, however, he gives no name. The remains consist of a dorsal vertebra tolerably well preserved, and perfectly figured in the «Atlas» from the ventral side and in profile (Pl. LX. fig. 3, 4). This species has been designed in 1888 by WEITHOFER as Varanus marathonensis and by Baron XOPCSA (op. cit.) 1 Annales du Muséum, Tome XII b, p. 79, Pl. 10. (From ZITTEL, Paläozool., Bd. TU München u. Leipzig, 1887-1890, p. 594). This genus was provisionally ranged by LYDEKKER (Catal. Foss. Kept. a. Amph., Part I, London 1888, p. 301) in the order of Proterosauria (= Protorosauria) established by SEELEY, as the only member of the Proterosauridae family. More recently we find (comp.: Grundzüge der Paläont. (PaläozooL), v. K. A. v. ZITTEL, neu bearb. v. BBOILT,. KOKEN, SCHLOSSER, II. Abt., München u. Berlin, 1911, p. 203 — 204) the Proterosauridae with numerous genera defined as the first family of the order Rhynch&cephalia. 3 Paläontograph., Bd. VII, II. Liefer., Cassel. * Never present in Varanus ! 6 Beitr. z. Paläont. u, Geol. Öst.-Ung. u. d. Orients, Bd. XXI, Wien u. Leipzig,.. 1908, p. 33-62.
