256 



MEMOIRS OP THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 



easy work, and that they were numerous enough to make hunting in packs 

 a natural method of attack. The coyotes evidently preyed upon small mammals 

 and birds, and hunted alone or in small groups. In all of the asphalt collections 

 brought together thus far the number of individuals representing the larger 

 mammals has been unexpectedly great compared with that of the smaller forms, 

 and the number of birds which would naturally serve as food for coyotes is 

 also small. It may therefore be true that the lure for large wolves was excep- 

 tionally good. It is to be noted, however, that even compared with a small 

 number of individuals representing the smaller mammals the number of coyotes 

 is small. It seems therefore possible to explain the number of coyotes present 

 either on the supposition that, owing to much superior intelligence, out of a 

 large number relatively few succumbed to accidental encountering of the tar, 

 or to the attraction of living bait, or on the theory that the number of coyotes 

 in the region was absolutely very much smaller than that of the great wolves. 

 The latter view seems to give the principal reason for the small representation. 



Figs. 34 and 35. Canis ochropus orcutti Merriam, J. C. Skull, no. 10842, X 

 posterior view. Eancho La Brea Beds. 



Fig. 34, lateral view; fig. 35, 



This subspecies is closely related to Canis ochropus now living in southern 

 California. The skulls of Canis ochropus orcutti average somewhat larger than 

 in the living C. ochropus, and are noticeably broader across the palate and zygo- 

 matic arches (figs. 34, 35, and 40). The mandible is considerably higher, par- 



