424 
G. J. DE FEJ ÉRVÁR Y 
vanus points also to the fact of this genus having originated from Western 
Europe eventually from North America. — The positive data 
lead from France, where real Varanus are to be found in the 
Oligocene and also eventually in the Eocene strata already, 
towards G e r m a n y, where in the under Miocene of the Swabian- 
Bavarian plateau we again encounter this reptile genus. After this a gap 
occurs in our knowledge of the geographical distribution of the genus 
Varanus, for in the lower Pliocene we only meet with one Varanus 
species from Greece, whilst the same is present in the F ores t-b e d= 
Fig. 22. Aspect of the World at the Eocene and Oligocene Periods. — Eocene Conti¬ 
nents submerged by Oligocene Transgressions are marked in red. (After Koken [in 
Arldt, op. cit., Karte 20] drawn by Baroness & Baron de Fejérváry). — Note : Some 
smaller islands in the Mediterranean region are not figured. 
Fauna of South Hungary. Although the remains obtained from Hungary 
are of a later period than the fossils from Greece, that single fact does 
not justify the conclusion that the genus Varanus is to be considered of 
Eastern origin ; this gap may be attributed to insufficient palaeontological 
exploration of the intermediary territories between Hungary and Germany or 
France on one hand and Greece on the other, or simply to a mere accident 
not having as yet led to some material from more ancient strata in those 
regions. For it cannot well be presumed that the genus Varanus in its 
endeavour from France eastwards, would have reached Greece 
without crossing Hungary, as a continual expansion from West 
to East as far as Asia may, with full right, appear more pro- 
