ANGFIDiE. 279 



Genus PLACOSAURUS, Gervais 1 . 



Syn. Palceovaranus, Filhol 2 . 



Teeth conical and pointed. The vertebrae appear intermediate 

 between those of Ophisaurus and Diploglossus, having the tall and 

 broad neural spines of the latter and the extremely flattened centra 

 of the former. The limbs were fully developed. 



Placosaurus margariticeps (Gervais 3 ). 



Syn. Varanus (?) margariticeps, Gervais 4 . 

 Palceovaranus cayluxi, Filhol 5 . 



About once and a half the size of Diploglossus shaivi. A com- 

 parison of the type cranial scutes of Varanus margariticeps 

 with those of the typical Placosaurus rugosus 7 , from the Eocene of 

 Vaucluse, will leave little doubt as to the generic identity of the two 

 forms, while the right of the present form even to specific distinc- 

 tion has yet to be proved. The undermentioned specimens being 

 evidently the remains of Anguidce, may be pretty safely referred to 

 this species ; the provisional identification by Filhol of his Palaio- 

 varanus cayluxi with Varanus (?) margariticeps being in all proba- 

 bility correct 8 . 



Ilab. Europe (France and ? England). 



Fig. 62. 



Placosaurus margariticeps. — Eternal, anterior, and left lateral views of a dorsal 

 vertebra; from the Phosphorites of Caylux. j. c, costal articulation. 



R. 427. Two imperfect specimens of the dentary bone of the man- 

 dible ; from the Upper Eocene Phosphorites of Lalbenque 

 (Lot), France. The larger specimen agrees very closely 



1 Zool. et Pal. Franchises, 1st ed. p. 260 (1848-52). 



a Ann. Sci. Geol. vol. viii. p. 268 (1877). 



3 Zool. et Pal. Generates, ser. 2, p. 60 (1876). — Varanus. 4 Luc. cit. 



5 Ann. Sci. Geol. vol. viii. p. 268 (1877). 



6 Gervais, loc. cit., woodcut. 



7 Gervais, Zool. ct Pal. Franchises, 1st ed. pi. lxiv. fig:. 2. 



8 See a note by the writer in the ' Geol. Mag.' dec. .'>. vol. v. p 111 (] 

 ce, however, the jaws were still regarded as Varanoid. 



