Vol. 5] 



Merriam. — Felis Atrox. 



303 



specimen is somewhat different from that in the type, in which 

 the anteroinferior region is gently rounded, rather than mark- 

 edly angular: Variation of this nature may be due in part to 

 difference in age. A considerable irregularity in the roughened 

 surface of the bone in the anteroinferior portion of the sym- 

 physis in the Rancho La Brea specimen is possibly in part an 

 individual peculiarity. 



While there seems little doubt that the Rancho La Brea spec- 

 imen is specifically identical with Felis atrox Leidy, the slight 

 differences in size of canine, form of P 3 , length of diastema, and 

 form of the symphyseal region of the jaw make it desirable to 

 refer to this type as the bebbi form, in contrast to the typical 

 specimen. 



Relation to Felis imperialis Leidy. — The type of Leidy 's Felis 

 imperiali s" was obtained by Dr. Lorenzo G. Yates in a gravel 

 deposit at Livermore Valley, California. In the same beds there 

 were also obtained remains of Bison latifrons, Auchenia hesterna, 

 Elephas, Equas, and Canis indianensis. This collection taken as 

 a whole indicates the Quaternary age of the deposit. There is, 

 however, no definite statement as to how closely the specimens 

 represented in the collection were associated. 



The type specimen consisted of an upper jaw fragment con- 

 taining P :s , and showing the alveoli of P 2 and the canine. It is 

 considerably smaller than the Rancho La Brea specimen, as is 

 indicated by the following table of comparative measurements: 



■§ m a 



•S s • 



£ a J| 

 V ■§! 



a « 

 Pi 



Length, from posterior side of canine alveolus to posterior 



side of P 3 45.4 54. 



P 3 , anteroposterior diameter 23.7 29. 



P\ height measured from (unguium to apex of protocone 14.8 15.5 



Diameter of canine alveolus 29.2 42.3 



A perfectly preserved upper canine in the University collec- 

 tions from Rancho La Brea agrees almost exactly in size with that 

 of the type of F. imperialis. 



"Leidy, J., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad., 1873, p. 259. 



