452 
G. J. DE FEJÉR VÁR Y 
projecting, presenting a sort of processus ascendens, on both sides of which 
deep excavations are to be seen ; the upper end of this proc. ascendens 
(Textfig. 29a) is rounded, and strongly prominent. In the examined species 
of Varanus I found this bone of a more flattened type, presenting 
in its median line but a slight longitudinal elevation, with two very 
shallow hollownesses ; no trace of a true proc. ascendens was to be 
found, 1 and the two slight convex elevations which are present in Mega - 
lania between the proc. ascendens and the otosphenoid's ala 
otosphenoidea (Fig. 29) proved in Varanus longer than the median 
(somewhat elevated) part corresponding to the Megalanian proc. ascendens. 
The general shape of the supraoccipital in Megalania is 
sub triangular whilst in V aranus it bears a sub quadrangular 
aspect. 
Owing to the shape of the proc. ascendens, the skull in Megalania, 
at least in its immediate occipital region, may have been higher than 
in most Faranws-speeies, about as high as in conchiovorous specimens of 
V. niloticus, the supraoccipital of which resembles most among Varanidae 
in shape and formation that of Megalania, presenting also a sort of proc. 
ascendens. 2 
Concerning the inner part (cerebral surface) of this bone, it may 
be stated that the arch forming the upp;-r part of the foramen magnum 
is of moderate size, relatively smaller than in Varanidae, though 
comparatively not so small as could be expected on comparison with the 
neural canal in the vertebrae of this huge form. The partes laterales («e pio tics», 
Huxley) are tolerably swollen, the median flat portion between them 
being rather narrow, — still narrower than in V. niloticus for instance 
its limits at both sides drawn by the partes laterales in a nearly pa¬ 
rallel way. 
2. Pleuroccipitals very robust, considerably more robust 
than in the average of Varanus, — even still so than in F. niloticus 
provided with two strong tuberosities between the lower 
edge of the strongly developed though strongly damaged proc. 
pa rotici — from which the basal part only was left — and the tubera 
sphenooccipitalia; these tuberosities, present also in Varanus, 3 
1 Since this went through the press I had the opportunity to examine — thanks 
to Mr. Siebenrock’s kindness — in the Vienna Natural History Hofmuseum a skull 
of the African V. exanthematicus Bose., bearing a very strongly develo¬ 
ped proc. ascendens and presenting at both sides of it two deep hollownesses, greatly 
resembling by this fact the Megalanian fragment. 
2 See with respect to this the preceding additional footnote. 
3 In young specimens these tuberosities arc wanting. 
