282 Adventures in Scenery 



avian population. Among the mammals those that were en- 

 trapped in the greatest numbers were the sabre -tooth cat and 

 dire wolf, both of which are represented in the deposits by many 

 skulls and parts of skeletons. 



The cat family, as represented in the asphalt deposits of 

 Rancho La Brea, includes both the sabre- tooth (Smilodon) and 

 the true cats (Felicidae, genus Felix) . The sabre- tooth cat 

 ranks next to the dire wolf in the number of individuals found 

 in the tar pools. The last of this group of sabre-tooth cats 

 occurs in the Pleistocene. They are now entirely extinct. 



The great lion-like cat (Felix atrox) was the most remark- 

 able member of the group of true cats. Male individuals of 

 this great cat were nearly one-fourth larger than any of the 

 large living cats (lion, tiger, leopard, etc.) of Eurasia. This 

 great lion was the most formidable predaceous mammal present 

 in the Rancho La Brea assemblage, being rivaled only by the 

 powerful short-faced bears. 



Of a total of between 4,000 and 5,000 Pleistocene mam- 

 malian relics in the Los Angeles Museum 90% are carnivores. 

 Of the 90%, 57% are of the dog family (Canidae), closely 

 followed by the cats (Felidae) with 40%. Each of these 

 groups greatly exceeds the bears, badgers, skunks and weasels. 



Among the bears the short-faced bear (Tremarctotherium) 

 was more abundant than the black-grizzly type. These were 

 of large size, resembling the brown and kodiak bears of the 

 Alaska coast. The short-faced bear was the largest flesh-eating 

 mammal that occurs in the Rancho La Brea deposits. The 

 species is now extinct, for which the civilized world of today 

 need have no regrets! The short-faced bears (Tremarcto- 

 theres) enjoyed an extensive distribution over the North Amer- 

 ican continent in Pleistocene time. With the disappearance of 

 the short-faced bears the black and grizzly bears established 

 themselves as the prevailing representatives of the bear family 

 in California. The grizzlies have since become extinct in this 

 region. 



