IMMENSE VULTURES long since extinct thrived 

 in southern California during the geologic 

 periods represented by collections from the 

 Rancho La Brea tar traps. Among avian forms 

 was Teratornis meniami, a huge condor-like 

 vulture with an estimated wing-spread of 15 to 

 16 feet. One of the largest known birds of 

 i light, Teratornis is compared in the accom- 

 panying illustration to the California condor 

 (Gymnogyps caUlornianus), as drawn to scale 

 by John L. Ridgway. A raptor with a curious 

 combination of eagle and vulture-like charac- 

 ters, Teratornis has proven to be one of the 

 most interesting birds in the Hancock Collec- 

 tions. Skeletal bird elements taken from the 

 tar pits total 4,189 representative individuals. 

 More than a dozen extinct species of birds have 

 been identified from skeletons and there are 

 many others which are extremely rare. Thou- 

 sands of skeletons of small mammals, such as 

 rodents, insectivores and bats, remain to be 

 studied. The Los Angeles Museum has pub- 

 lished numerous papers on the fossil finds. 



HUGE TUSKERS assembled in awesome array among casos of skeletal elements at 

 the Los Angeles Museum stir the interest of students from all parts of the world. 



