FOSSIL VARANIDAE AND MEGALANIDAE. 
385 
rinnenförmig vertieft.» Regarding the shortness and stouter configuration 
of this bone, these faetures cannot be designated as forming a difference 
between V. marathonensis and recent Monitors, such characters 
being of mere specific value, and the two markings alluded to are not a 
special characteristic of the named fossil form, as recent Monitors 
are nowise uniformly characterized by longer or slenderer upper jaws, in 
this respect presenting on the contrary, a large series of various formations. 
The well marked «furrow» mentioned by Weithofer is nothing else than 
a very strongly developed excavatio nasalis mihi (see PL II, Figs. 1 —2) 
beginning immediately under the proc. praefrontalis (missing in both 
a 
Fig. 8. t Var anus marathonensis Weith. The type-remains described by Mr. Weithofer.— 
Nat. size. — a : left supraorbital, 6 : other skull portions imbedded in matrix (see text). — 
From Weithofer, op. cit. Taf. XIX, Figs. 8 — 9. 
fossils, viz. in that figured by Weithofer and in the Csarnóta-specimen) 
which is stronger developed than the corresponding element in F, griseus 
Daud., with which it agrees well in shape. A «mehr oder weniger scharfe 
Kante», viz. the upper margin (crista nasalis mihi) of the maxillary 
is naturally present also in V. marathonensis, although appearing mor¬ 
phologically more separated by the strongly-marked excavatio nasalis. 1 It is 
owing to the same misinterpretation of osteological characters that the 
«difference» alluded to below between F. marathonensis and the recent 
Monitors has been signalized by Mr .Weithofer : «Während weiter bei den 
recenten Varanen die Knochenwand des Maxillare in seiner hinteren Partie mit 
1 It is doubtful whether the Pikermi-fossil was not deformed to a certain degree, 
the depth of the excavatio nasalis being .perhaps a consequence of this deformation ; or 
might it have been filled up by matrix in its posterior part, appearing thus deeper 
than in reality, or the figure may be somewhat exaggerated? 
Annales Musei Nationale Hungarici. XVI. 
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