412 



University of California Publications. 



[Geology 



all of these remains presumably represent Desmostylus, but as 

 yet it has not been possible to make certain of the relationships 

 of these fragments. 



SYSTEMATIC POSITION 

 The evidence before us indicates that Desmostylus represents 

 a group which is to be included in the Sirenia. The characters 

 of the skull and dentition suggest that when the whole skeleton 

 is seen this genus may be found to differ from the known 

 groups sufficiently to make necessary its reference to a family 

 distinct from those thus far described. The peculiar characters 

 of the skull and dentition of Desmostylus add somewhat to the 

 evidence which has been held to indicate relationship of the 

 Sirenia to the Proboscidea. 



