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G. J. DB FEJ ÉRVÁR Y 
sentiert, deren Körperlänge, nach den vorhandenen Resten zu schliessen, 
eine ansehnliche Grösse erreichen musste, die jene der lebenden W a r il¬ 
ei d e c hs e wenn nicht übertroffen, so doch erreicht haben.» 
«Zu welchem Genus der fossilen Formen diese Reste gestellt werden 
sollten, lässt sich noch nicht angeben.» This most primitive «description», 
to which no figure is even added, cannot possibly offer any clue to a deter¬ 
mination, I therefore regard it a prematu r e procedure on Baron Kor¬ 
csa ’s part to simply mention these fossils as «Var anus sp.». Considering 
the description, both, the genus and the species, appear dubious, so that it 
seems best to insert this «Incertae sedis» form as <•? Varanus sp. Nop. 1908» 
in the palaeontological system. 
Of what has been said it therefore follows that instead of the seven 
European Vara nids mentioned in recent literature we know altogether 
but of three (eventually t wo) species which belong to o n e genus, 
viz. Varanus, and to which yet two «Incertas sedis» forms must be added 
as Appendix of the family Varanidae. 
B) Varanidae of Asia. 
The first fossil M o n i t o r of Asia was determined by Falconer in his 
«Palaeontological Memoirs» 1 — published in 1868 — under the name of 
Varanus sivaUnsis. This reptile originated from the lower Pliocene 
of the Siwalik Hills in India and has been later on more closely described 
by Lydekker . 2 Furthermore, in 1886 3 Lydekker mentions fossils 4 from the 
Billa Surgam Caves, Karnul, Madras, India, under the name of « Varanus 
dracaena Shaw» originating however from the more recent Pleistocene 
strata and very likely belonging to Varanus bengalensis yet existing. These 
two species, the one from the Neogene, the other from the Quarterly period, 
are the only representatives of Asiatic Varanidae yet known to us. 
Varanus sivalensis Falc. can quite safely be admitted as species. 
The bulkiness ob its dimensions are well demonstrated by the robustness 
of the humerus upon which Falconer establishes the species. The type 
1 Voi. I, London, 1868, PI. 32 Tig. 4-7 & «Descr. of PI. XXXII.» 
Siwalik Crocodilia, Laceri., and Ophid., in: Ind. tért. and post-tert. Vert., Pa. 
læont. Ind., Mem. Geol. Surv. Ind., Ser. X, Vol. Ill, Calcutta, 1884-86; p. 236, PI. 
XXXV, Figs. 1, la, lò. — The Fauna of the Karnul Caves, &c., op. cit. Ser. X, Vol. IV, 
Calcutta, 1886, p. 55, Fig. 11. — Catal. Foss. Rept. Amph. Brit. Mus., Part I, London 
1888, p. 283-284, Fig. 65. 
3 Lydekker, The Fauna of the Karnul Caves, in: Indian tert. and post.tertiary 
Vert., Palæont. Ind., Mem. Geol. Surv. Ind., Ser. X, Vol. IV, Calcutta ; p. 54, 55, Fig. 10. 
4 See also : Lydekker, Catal. Part I, p. 282. 
