Vol. 5] 



Merriam 



. — John Day Carnivora. 



13 



NOTHOCYON GEISMARIANUS Cope, n. Vcir. MOLLIS. 

 PI. 2, Fig. 1, and PL 3, Fig. 1. 



Type specimen No. 90, Univ. Calif. Col. Vert. Palae. From the Middle 

 John Day Beds at Turtle Cove, John Day River, Oregon. 



A perfectly preserved cranium with dentition represents a 

 type differing' somewhat from the other small canids of the John 

 Day. The skull is that of an adult animal with somewhat worn 

 teeth. It is much larger than the skull of lemur and eonsider- 

 ahly smaller than the typical geismarianus. The brain case is 

 large and the facial region short. The orbits are smaller than in 

 lemur, while the auditory bullae are relatively as large as in that 

 species. The cranium is rather sharply constricted behind the 

 acute postorbital processes. The temporal ridges show a lyrate 

 arrangement, though it is not so strongly marked as in lemur. 

 The ridges are separated by a space from 9 to 12 mm. wide, ex- 

 cepting over the posterior portion of the brain case, where they 

 unite to form a low crest about 15 mm. in front of the inion. The 

 dentition represents a stage between that of Gynoelietis(f) orego- 

 nensis and X. latidcns. P 3 seems to have had a posterior cusp, 

 though the posterior margin is worn and only a trace of the cusp 

 is preserved. The superior earnassial and the molars are of the 

 broad type, but are narrower than in latidens. Except for the 

 somewhat smaller size, lyrate arrangement of the temporal ridges 

 and somewhat narrower molars, this form is close to N. geisma- 

 rianus. It differs from C. ( ?) oregonensis in its larger size, larger 

 brain case, much larger otic bullae, longer lyrate temporal area, 

 and broader teeth. 



This specimen represents a variation of the Nothocyon type 

 which cannot be placed in any of the described species without 

 apparently extending the limits of the group so far as to overlap 

 some other species. The uniting of any of the types now known 

 does not seem advisable until more is known of intermediate 

 stages. Neither does it seem desirable to increase the number of 

 species where considerable variation is suggested. I have there- 

 fore referred to this form as a variant of the geismarianus type. 

 Later investigations may show that it should be raised to specific 

 rank. 



