354 
G. J. DE FEJÉR VARY 
details concerning this species will likewise be given in the part dealing 
with system and phytogeny. 
Of Var anus marathonensis Weith. (= V. atticus Nodosa) the first 
description given by Gaudiiy does not contain any specially important 
date. The measurements, the breadth excepted («Om, 032»), are not 
a c c u V a t e as may be stated from the natural sized figure (PL LX, fig. 3 
et 4). It s e e m s that Roger’s F. Hof manni could be i d e n t i c a 1 to 
this earlier described species, although one of the dorsal vertebrae 1 
at my disposal, and which corresponds exactly with the drawing 
published in Gaudry’s description, shows a few slight differences which 
may be explained by the fact that the two smaller vertebrae figured in 
Roger’s treatise — the bigger one being in such fragmentary condition 
as not to permit any comparison with the reproduction 2 — were placed 
somewhat nearer the region of the neck as the specimen in hand (about 
XI th vertebra), and might therefore be approximately between the VIII th 
and X th , this agreeing also with Roger’s definition, according to which they 
formed a part of the «Brustwirbelsäule.» The question of identity will be 
more amply dealt with hereafter when examining the systematic position 
nf V. Hof manni. So much however must be stated that with regard to 
V. Hofmanni , as I was solely dependent on descriptions 
and figures, absolutely reliable data cannot be established ; thus 
in spite of the probability or possibility of identity V. Hofmanni will 
yet be dealt with as an especial species. 
Let us now examine the European Varanus most recently described 
under the name of V. deserticolus By . 3 As already mentioned in the historical 
enumeration, for all material Bolkay only had the fragment of a dentary from 
Beremend at his disposition. To define from this unique remnant its position 
in the system, at least would have truly been no easy task. In this matter 
Bolkay therefore would have been equally justified for presuming a new 
European species as — if he had acquired knowledge about the existence 
of V. marathonensis Wêith. — for describing it on base of palaeobiological 
considerations under the name of Varanus CÎ.P marathonensis. Lately however, 
tolerably well preserved vertebrae from Csarnóta have fallen into my hands 
and led me to the convie t i o n that as far as can be reckoned V: deser - 
1 Roger found neither cervical nor caudal ve rtebræ, these therefore co-uld offer 
no material for comparison. 
2 I cannot here give an opinion as to the relation of this vertebra nor as 
regards its position in the vertebral column, all the less as the 
figure suggests a conclusion different to the statement in the description. 
3 This form has been described by Bolkay under the name of V. deserticolus , 
which is grammatically wrong, «cola» being an un va ria ble suffix. 
