MERRIAM: THE FAUNA OF RANCHO LA BREA. 253 



teriorly, and in the almost entire absence of a posteiior basal tubercle behind 

 the posterior cusp. The portion of the palatine region present seems to narrow 

 anteriorly. This specimen varies in some respects toward 0. dims, but the 

 size, general form, and especially the proportions of M 1 indicate that it belongs 

 with the group of individuals referred to C. occidentalis furlongi rather than 

 to G. dims or to G. milleri. 



A small wolf skull, no. 19792, of the G. occidentalis type, obtained at Rancho 

 La Brea by Dr. L. H. Miller, resembles G. occidentalis furlongi in the char- 

 acters of the upper molars, and is referred to that form. This specimen (figs. 

 33a and 33&) differs widely from G. dirus, and in most characters in which it 

 differs from G. dirus, it resembles G. occidentalis. The skull is much smaller 

 than in C. dirus, and is also relatively narrower. The nasal bones are long and 

 narrow. The postorbital processes of the frontals are small, the sagittal crest 

 is low, and the inion does not show the extraordinary overhang so characteristic 

 of G. dirus. The posterior narial opening is narrow at the anterior end, instead 

 of flaring as is commonly seen in G. dirus. The posterior palatine foramina 

 are situated relatively far forward as in G. occidentalis. The molars are of the 

 G. occidentalis form. P 4 is, however, much heavier than in the modern wolves 

 and resembles closely P 4 of C. milleri. In the northern wolves of the G. pamba- 

 sileus type the upper carnassial may be quite massive, but falls considerably 

 below the stage of development seen in this form. 



Although there is a noticeable variation in the size of the teeth in the Rancho 

 La Brea specimens referred to C. occidentalis furlongi, this material seems to 

 represent a single form which differs from the modern gray wolves at least to 

 the extent of subspecific variation. 



This wolf type was evidently relatively rare compared with C. dirus, and 

 was much less common than the coyotes in this particular region. From what 

 is known of the distribution of wolves of the G. occidentalis type it is doubtful 

 whether they have ever been relatively abundant in the region of southwestern 

 United States, as C. dirus was certainly the dominant species through a consid- 

 erable part of Pleistocene time, and the coyote group has apparently been the 

 most abundantly represented canid type since the disappearance of G. dirus. 



