1920] Stock: A Mounted Skeleton of Mylodvn Hartani 



427 



REMAKKS 



The mounted skeleton of Mijlodon liarlani sliown in plate 51 pre- 

 sents an animal with elongate skull, short neck, short and heavy body, 

 broad pelvic girdle, and with a stout tail. The limbs are particularly 

 heavy. The cumbrous Aveight of the body and the jjeculiar form 

 of the posterior foot suggest a mammal with slow and labored move- 

 ment. The animal apparently fed upon grass and small shrubs, and 

 it may have used the well developed claws of the fore feet in digging 

 for and uncovering roots. Undoubtedly the anterior extremities were 

 formidable weapons of defense against attacks of large predaceous 

 mammals, Avhile the skin with dermal armor of ossicles gave added 

 protection. It is presumed that Mijlodon lived in stretches of open 

 country in preference to regions supporting a heavy growth of timber. 



Mijlodon heniuni was api^arently an important member of the 

 Pleistocene fauna of western North America during the time of accu- 

 mulation of the asphalt beds and the vertebrate remains at Rancho 

 La Brea, for it is one of the group of large mammals represented 

 by many individuals in the assemblage of forms known from these 

 deposits. 



The accompanying illustration (pi. 51) of the mounted specimen 

 is reproduced only as preliminary to further study of the skeleton of 

 Myloclon harlani. Critical restudy of the posterior extremities with 

 special reference to posture of limbs and of feet may necessitate 

 changes in the mount that will impart a somewhat different appear- 

 ance to the specimen. A more detailed discussion of Mijlodon hurlani 

 will be presented in the final report on tlie edentates from Rancho 

 La Brea now in course of completion. 



