1913] 



Merriam: A Camel from Rancho La Brea 



311 



convex anteriorly. In no. 20040 it is still more acute anteriorly. 

 In Auchenia lama the anterior ends of the palatines extend 

 forward as an acute wedge between the maxillaries. 



The paroccipital process is rather slender, and bends forward 

 with a marked inferior hook. In Auchenia this process is wider 

 distally. The mastoid region forms a deep and rather narrow 

 plate anteriorly. The mastoid and paroccipital plates are 

 brought nearer together than in either Auchenia or Camelus. In 

 nos. 20040 and 20028 the posterior inferior border of the mastoid 

 plate slopes forward quite sharply in contrast to the form seen 

 in Auchenia. 



The occipital region (fig. 7) shows rather more similarity to 

 Camelus than to Auchenia. In Auchenia the occiput consists of 



Fig. 7. Camelops near hesternus (Leidv). Occipital region of the 

 skull. No. 20028, X y s . Eancho La Brea Beds. 



two lateral planes which meet in a strong median crest. At the 

 outer borders of these planes are the lateral foramina of the 

 occiput. In the Rancho La Brea specimens there is a short low 

 median crest at the upper end of the occiput in nos. 20028 and 

 20040; in no. 20049 it is scarcely visible. On each side of the 

 crest is a deep fossa for the rectus capitis posticus. At either 

 side of the occiput the large lateral foramina lie at the bottom 

 of large, deep fossae, and these foramina deeply notch the 

 margins of the occipital bone. Between the lateral foramina 

 and the fossae for the muscles below the inion the occipital bone 

 rises on each side as a prominent rounded buttress or ridge 

 extending from near the upper border of the foramen magnum 



