i I A ks el ee 
1884. | The Creodonta. 265 
\ 
the other two. The M. /anius was considerably larger than the 
M. obtusidens, equaling the black bear (Ursus americanus) in size. 
It had a large head, with a long, rather narrow and truncate 
muzzle. The limbs were relatively smaller, 
not exceeding those of the black bear in 
length and thickness. The tail was long 
and slender as in the cats, while the claws 
were broad and flat as in the beaver. 
The molar, canine and incisor teeth of 
my specimen, as well as those of one in the 
Princeton Museum, are much worn by 
use. This is especially true of the canines 
of both, while the crowns of the molars of 
my Bitter Creek specimen are almost en- 
tirely worn away. The same peculiarity is 
to be observed in the specimens of the al- 
lied Amélyctonus sinosus, which I obtained 
in New Mexico. It is probable that these 
Species chewed hard substances. The pe- 
culiar approach of the lower canines is a 
Special modification for peculiar habits, Vic, Mamy: hai 
which I suspect to have been the devouring left anterior foot, one-half 
of the turtles which so abounded on land abc To rh r 
and in the waters of the same period. The right side of same individ- 
slender symphysis could most readily be (2; Rom the Bridger 
introduced into the shell, while the lateral beds of Wyoming. 
Pressure of the upper canines with the lower, would be well 
adapted for breaking the bony covering of those reptiles. The 
breaking of these shells in the attempt to masticate their contents 
Would produce the unusual wear of the teeth observed. 
: The Mesonyx ossifragus is the largest species, its skull exceed- 
ing that of the grizzly bear in dimensions (Figs. 2, 6, 8,9 and 10), 
Was originally found by the writer in the Wasatch beds of New 
Mexico, and was afterwards found by Mr. Wortman to be not un- 
common in the corresponding formation in Northern Wyoming. 
From Material obtained by this gentleman, we can forma general 
of the form and proportions of the Mesonyx ossifragus. We 
‘an depict an animal as large as a large-sized American black bear, 
with a long, stout tail and a wide head as large as that of a grizzly 
The fore limbs are so much shorter than the hind limbs 
