478 M. R. Thorpe — Neiu Fossil Carnivora. 



Pliocene age. The bone varies in color from light grey 

 to slate, while the teeth are dark blue. 



Relationships. — No specimen comparable to this has 

 been described or reported from North America. In fact, 

 it resembles more closely Simocyon primigenius Roth and 

 Wagner than any other form, a fact first recognized by 

 Professor Lull. Simocyon primigenius is Lower Pliocene 

 in age, and comes from the Pikermi beds, near Athens, 

 Greece. 



This European species differs from Pliocyon marshi 

 in having (1) but one lower premolar, P^; (2) a longer 

 and more robust ramus; (3) three incisors; (4) a much 

 wider canine with nearly the same antero-posterior 

 diameter; (5) a greater distance between canines; (6) 

 anterior mental foramen below the middle of the dias- 



FiG. 1. — Pliocyon marshi, gen. et sp. iiov. 

 view. X V^- 



Holotyx>e. External lateral 



tenia anterior to P^; (7) internal, mandibular fora- 

 men much lower and farther from M^ ; (8) a longer 

 symphysis ; (9) a much greater outward curvature of the 

 ramus; (10) a much greater degree of outward trend 

 below the tooth row ; . and several other less important 

 differences. 



Pliocyon marshi differs from Simocyon diaphorus 

 Kaup, on the other hand, in having (1) no P2 and P3 ; (2) 

 a smaller and lower metaconid on Mj, and a larger hypo- 

 conid; (3) a much shallower cleft between the para- and 

 protoconid of Mj ; (4) a longer and higher P^, but with 

 less prominent basal heel ; (5) M2 placed nearly level with 

 respect to the tooth row, instead of rising steeply poste- 

 riorly; (6) a shorter horizontal ramus; (7) anterior 

 mental foramina closer together, with the anterior one 

 higher; and (8) a somewhat shorter but wider M^. 



