1913] Merriam: Tapir Remains from Pacific Coast Region 173 



The lower fauna is not yet well enough known to permit definite 

 reference to a stage of the standard time scale, but seems to be 

 not older than late Pliocene or younger than the earlier portion 

 of the Pleistocene. 



The section from which the tapir tooth was obtained has been 

 described by Diller, s who refers to an upper horizon as the Elk 

 River Beds. A collection of marine shells from these beds examined 

 by Dall was referred to as "probably Pleistocene, all the 

 species seeming recent, but they may be of the Merced horizon. 

 . . . They are not older than the newer Pliocene." The lower 

 zone at Elk River as described to the writer by Martin is pos- 

 sibly referred by Diller to the Cape Blanco Beds, the equiva- 

 lent of the Empire beds. The fauna from the exposures of 

 the Blanco is considered by Diller as Miocene. Mr. Martin 

 believes that the lower horizon of blue-gray argillaceous sand- 

 stone is later than the Empire formation which occurs lower 

 down in the section in the cliff farther north. According to 

 Martin the fauna of this blue-gray argillaceous sandstone is much 

 more recent in character than that of the Empire Beds farther 

 north. The tapir specimen is reported from the lower beds. 



Fig. 2. Tapirus, near liaysii calif amicus, n. subsp. Superior molar 

 series, natural size. From early Pleistocene or late Pliocene marine 

 deposits three miles south of Cape Blanco, Oregon. 



The tapir specimen obtained at Cape Blanco consists of a 

 portion of a maxillary bone with the three molar teeth well pre- 

 served and but little worn (fig. 2). 



5 Diller, .1. S., T T . S. Geol. Sun . Hull, 196, p. 30, 19o2. 



