UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS 



BULLETIN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 



GEOLOGY 



Vol 10, No. 28, pp. 535-537, 2 text-figures April 20, 1918 



NEW PUMA-LIKE CAT FROM RANCHO LA BREA 



BY 



JOHN C. MERRIAM 



\ 



Included in a considerable variety of representatives of the Fclis 

 group known from Rancho La Brea, there is a large puma-like cat 

 representing a species distinct from any thus far described from North 

 America. As the description of this species is necessary to certain 

 studies on the Felidae now in progress, it is desirable to present a 

 preliminary description at this time. 



FELIS DAGGETTT, n. sp. 



Type specimen, a mandible, no. 21572, from locality 2050, Rancho La Brea, 

 California. 



The mandible and dentition have approximately the dimensions 

 found in the Recent puma of California, but are distinguished . by 

 unusual massiveness of the cheek-teeth and of the jaw, by unusual 

 width of the angle of the mandible, and by the unusual backward 

 curve or sweep of the coronoid process compared with that in Recent 

 pumas. 



This species is named in honor of my friend and colleague, Mr. 

 Prank S. Daggett, Director of the Museum of History, Science and 

 Art, of Los Angeles, whose interest and co-operation in study of the 

 Rancho La Brea collections have contributed largely to the effective- 

 ness of monographic studies on this fauna now in progress. 



The Fclis daggctti specimens represent an animal equaling or per- 

 haps exceeding in size the largest pumas of the present day. They 

 are apparently to be classed with the puma group rather than with 

 the jaguars, and differ widely from the great cats of the Felis atrox 

 type, with which they were associated. The lower jaw represented 

 in the type specimen differs from that of the pumas of the Felis 



