The Los Angeles Basin 285 



the preservation of so complete a record of the mammalian life 

 of the region may be regarded as equally favorable to the 

 preservation of the remains of birds. Live bait furnished by 

 mammals and other creatures entrapped in the tar doubtless 

 served to attract the predatory and scavenger types of birds to 

 the locality. Remains of raptors (eagles) and certain species 

 of owls, crows, ravens, and magpies, occur in great numbers. 

 Thus the same inducement viz., the quest for food that led 

 beasts of prey to harbor about the tar pits to feed upon en- 

 trapped animals attracted the scavenger birds in the same way, 

 and this explains in some measure the presence in the region of 

 the asphalt deposits of great numbers of wolves and cats, and in 

 turn their entrapment and preservation in the asphalt.* 



* Approximately 100 papers relating to the fossils excavated at Rancho 

 La Brea are listed in the bibliography of Los Angeles Museum Publication No. 

 1, by Chester Stock, which publication has been freely drawn upon in the 

 preparation of these pages. 



