482 University of California Publications in Geology [Vol. 10 



FELINAE 



There are apparently two forms of the true cats represented in 

 the cave fauna. The large type as indicated by a skull fragment, 

 no. 19921, portions of two rami, no. 10637 and no. 19915, together 

 with much skeletal material, is closely related to the large Recent 

 puma, Felis oregonensis hippolestes. A somewhat smaller form, which 

 can be distinguished from the Recent Pacific Coast puma, Felis 

 oregonensis oregonensis, is represented by a broken ramus, no. 10636. 



According to Joseph Grinnell, the Pacific Coast puma, F. o. ore- 

 gonensis, ranges throughout California with the exception of the 

 southeastern deserts. It is also found in all life zones of the state, 

 though occurring perhaps most abundantly in the Upper Sonoran 

 zone and in the Transition zone. 



The hippolestes group, on the other hand, does not occur in the 

 California region, but at the present time is found in the Cordilleras 

 and to the east. During the Pleistocene a large puma of the F . hippo- 

 lestes type is known to have occurred in California, being recorded 

 from Potter Creek Cave and Samwel Cave in Shasta County and 

 from Rancho La Brea in the southern part of the. state. 



FELIS HAWVEEI, n. sp. 



Type specimen. — No. 10636, Univ. Calif. Coll. Vert. Palae., an incomplete left 

 ramus with P-, V- and M 1 intact. From the Pleistocene deposit of Hawver Cave, 

 near Auburn, California. The species is named in honor of the late Dr. J. C. 

 Hawver. 



A comparison between the cave specimen and some fifteen skulls 14 

 of the Recent F. o. oregonensis indicates a constant difference in shape 

 of angle between the Pleistocene and Recent forms. There is no 

 distinct angular process formed in no. 10636. In this specimen (figs. 

 4a, 46) the posterior border meets the inferior border to form a right , 

 angle. In other words, the posterior border of the ramus below the 

 condyle is straight and does not show the notching characteristic of 

 jaws of Recent forms. Unfortunately the lateral portion of the con- 

 dyle is broken away. The angle does not project beyond the posterior 

 border of the condyle as it does in California representatives of the 

 F. oregonensis group examined. Below the masseteric fossa the ramus 

 is relative!}' deeper than in Recent forms. 



14 It should be remarked here that the skulls of the Eecent Pacific Coast puma 

 contained in the California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology were collected on 

 Vancouver Island and at various localities in California. Future study of this 

 material may show that at least two subspecies of the F. oregonensis group are 

 represented in the area from which the present collections have been made. 



