3(14 



University of California Publications. 



[Geology 



The fragmentary nature of the type of F. imperialis makes 

 it nearly impossible to determine certainly whether it is to be 

 considered identical with F. atrox. The difference in size, 

 amounting to about one-fifth, is probably not sufficient to ex- 

 clude it from F. atrox. The only other character available for 

 comparison is found in the form of P 3 . This tooth is according 

 to Leidy's figure 7 relatively high, measured from the eingulum 

 to the apex of the protocone. In the corresponding tooth of the 

 Rancho La Brea specimen of F. atrox the height is relatively 

 less, or the tooth relatively longer anteroposteriorly. In the 

 F. imperialis specimen the posterior cusp is higher with relation 

 to the posterior basal tubercle. The high form of P 3 is rather 

 characteristic of the recent puma, while the lower form is seen 

 in the tiger. P 3 of the lion is somewhat higher than in the tiger. 

 Some doubt must exist as to whether this character is definite 

 enough to warrant the separation of the F. imperialis specimen 

 as a distinct species, even if the tooth in question is represented 

 with absolute accuracy in Leidy's figure. 



Leidy suggested that F. imperialis might be found to repre- 

 sent a young individual of the F. at rax type, and the range of size 

 in the specimens available from Rancho La Brea might be consid- 

 ered as evidence pointing in this direction. 



A milk cai nassial of a large eat of the Felis type described 

 by Bovard 8 from the Quaternary of Potter Creek Cave, was 

 recognized as possibly representing Felis imperialis. This spec- 

 imen, as shown by the table of measurements below, corresponds 

 to the Recent African lion in dimensions. It represents an ani- 

 mal nearer to the size of the type of F. imperialis than to that 

 of the Rancho La Brea specimen. 



Measurements of Superior Milk Carnassials. 



Anteroposterior diameter 

 Transverse diameter 



No. 3825, Potter 

 Creek Cave 

 24.6 mm. 

 8.2 



Recent African 



Lion 



24.3 

 8. 



Puma 



16. 

 4.6 



7 Leidy, J., TJ. S. Geo]. Surv. Terrs., vol. 1, 1873, pi. 31, fig. 3. 

 9 Bovard, .1. F., Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., vol. 5, p. 163. 



Second edition, issued September 3, 1909. 

 (First edition issued August 24, 1909.) 



