CANIS MILLERI, N. Sp. 



Text figures 27 to 31 



Type specimen, a skull with lower jaw, no. 11257, University of California 

 Collections in Vertebrate Palaeontology. Found four feet below the surface 

 in the asphalt deposits at Rancho La Brea. The species is named in honor of 

 Dr. L. H. Miller, whose assistance in furthering the investigations at Rancho 

 La Brea has been greatly appreciated by the writer. 



Skull and dentition (figs. 27, 28, 29, 30, and 3.1) intermediate between 

 Canis occidentalis and C. dims. Characters differing from those of C. dims as 

 follows: Skull much smaller. Nasals narrower posteriorly. Nasal processes 

 of frontals broader and extending much farther forward. Fronto-facial region 

 relatively flat, and postorbital processes of frontals small. Sagittal crest low. 

 Overhang of inion relatively small. Sharp median ridge of occiput wanting. 

 Posterior palatine foramina relatively far forward. Lower jaw slightly nar- 

 rower anteriorly than in typical C. dirus. Teeth relatively large, P 4 and Mi 

 especially heavy. M 1 (fig. 31) with unusually large hypocone, which extends 

 around the antero-internal region of the protocone, and is connected with a 

 low shelf of the cingulum on the anterior side of the tooth. P 2 with a distinct 

 posterior cusp. Mi relatively large. 



The skull of Canis milleri differs markedly from that of C. occidentalis in 

 its greater width, especially in the palate, and in the much more massive den- 

 tition. P 4 and M 1 are much larger in proportion to the size of the skull than 

 in any of the true timber wolves. P 4 greatly exceeds the relative dimensions 

 in typical C. occidentalis. In the general form and massiveness of P 4 , this 

 species closely approaches C. dirus, from which it is, however, clearly separ- 

 ated by other characters as indicated above. The nearest approach to the 

 assemblage of characters seen in C. milleri is found in C. occidentalis furlongi. 

 From this form C. milleri is distinguished by greater width of skull, especially 

 in the palatine region ; greater interorbital width of the frontal region ; shorter 

 and wider nasals; longer nasal processes of the frontals; somewhat heavier 

 upper carnassials; and wider inner lobes of the upper molars. 



The form seen in skull no. 11257 was at first considered as probably repre- 

 senting a young female of Canis dirus, the peculiar assemblage of characters 

 observed being in part such as might occur in young individuals of this 

 sex. Careful analysis of the collection does not, however, support this view. 



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