MERRIAM: THE FAUNA OP RANCHO LA BREA. 219 



massiveness of the dentition without corresponding development of the crushing 

 surface indicates use of the teeth in smashing large bones. The form of the 

 skull suggests that the head was normally held low and was often used in hard 

 pulling and hauling of heavy bodies. The great number of individuals of 

 G. dirus found at Rancho La Brea suggests that the wolves of this species some- 

 times associated themselves in packs, and that groups of considerable size may 

 have assembled to kill isolated ungulates and edentates. Particularly the young, 

 aged, and injured, when they could be separated from their associates, would 

 be the natural prey of the great wolf, but adults in normal strength may also 

 have succumbed to the combined attack of several of these powerful annuals. 



History of Literature on Canis dirus 



In 1854 Dr. Joseph Leidy 1 described from deposits occurring on the banks 

 of the Ohio River, a short distance below Evansville, Indiana, a collection of 

 fossil bones including the remains of Megalonyx jeffersonii, Tapirus liaysii, 

 Equus americanus, Bison americanus, Gervus virginianus, and a large wolf. 

 The wolf remains consisted of an almost complete left maxillary containing all 

 but one of the cheek teeth. The species represented seemed to Leidy to vary 

 far enough from any existing form to require a distinct specific designation, and 

 was accordingly described as Ganis primaevus. Leidy realized that others 

 might fail to recognize the species as distinct, as is indicated in the following 

 statement taken from his paper : ' ' Certain naturalists may regard the fossil as 

 an indication of a variety only of Ganis lupus., and of the correctness of this view 

 I will not attempt to decide." In 1856 Leidy 2 figured and redescribed the 

 species under the same name. 



In a description of Ganis (Aelurodon) saevus, published in 1858, Leidy 

 refers to the wolf previously described by him as Ganis primaevus, as follows : 3 



"The present extinct species is not so large as the one whose remains have been discovered 

 in association with those of Megalonyx, Tapirus, Equus, etc., on the banks of the Ohio River. 

 Indiana, to which the name of Canis primaevus was inadvertently applied (Proc. Acad. Nat. 

 Sc. VII, 200; Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc. iii, 167), and which may now be distinguished by that of 

 Canis dirus." 



In 1869 Leidy 4 again referred to the original specimen, which he had 

 described as Ganis primaevus, and gave to it the name Ganis indianensis. 

 Apparently Leidy had forgotten the reference to this form under the name of 

 Canis dirus in 1858. The name Ganis indianensis has come to be the designation 

 for this form co mm only used in the literature. The writer is indebted to Dr. 

 O. P. Hay for the discovery that Leidy's use of Ganis dirus for this form pre- 

 ceded its designation as Ganis indianensis. 



i Leidy, J., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad., vol. 7, p. 200, 1854. 



2 Leidy, J., Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad., ser. 2, vol. 3, p. 167, pi. 17, figs. 11 and 12. 1S56. 



3 Leidy, J., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad., p. 21, 1S58. 

 * Leidy, X, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad., p. 368, 1869. 



