306 



University of California Publications. [Geology 



Associated with the remains of the new form in the Rancho 

 La Brea beds, there occur a number of characteristic mammalian 

 forms of these deposits; for example, Canis indianensi's ; Canis, 

 n. sp. ; Smilodon ( 1) calif ornicus ; Bison antiquus; Elcphas, sp. ; 

 Paramylodon nebrascensis ; Equus pacificus. 



According to Merriam 1 this "fauna as a whole cannot be 

 considered as other than Quaternary, although the particular 

 division of that system represented is not as yet determined." 



A large number of specimens representing many avian spe- 

 cies have been taken from the Rancho La Brea beds. The entire 

 collection of the University of California was placed at the au- 

 thor's disposal and every possible courtesy shown him by Pro- 

 fessor John C. Merriam. A preliminary examination was made 

 of this collection together with material from the same source 

 in the collections of Dr. William Bebb and Dr. F. C. Clark, both 

 of Los Angeles. Mr. F. A. Lucas very kindly reviewed the 

 writer's manuscript before publication. 



Thus far the following avian species have been determined 

 from the Rancho La Brea beds. Gymnogyps calif or nianus, Ca- 

 thartes aura, Cath arista occidentalism Aquila chrysaetos, Circus 

 hudsonius, Buteo boreal is, Aluco pratincola, Asio wilsonianus, 

 A. accipitri u us. Bubo virginianus, Spcoiyto cunicularia, Ber- 

 nicla canadensis, Ardea herodias, Pavo calif ornicus, Corvus 

 corax. Several accipitrine forms, a small Polyborus, a large 

 ciconid, a small crane, a pheasant, and one or two passerines 

 remain yet in doubt. 



The large preponderance of raptorial species will at once be 

 noted in this list. If, however, the number of individuals be 

 taken into consideration, the preponderance becomes overwhelm- 

 ing. For example, there appear in the part of the University 

 collection thus far examined no less than thirty-three individu- 

 als of the Golden Eagle. In the same mass of material, the non- 

 predaceous species Great Blue Heron, American Raven and Can- 



i Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., vol. 5, p. 291. 



2 Assignment of the California form of Catharista to distinct specific rank 

 is based on a comparison of the Eecent Catharista atrata with a series of 

 twenty-one partial skeletons of the Rancho La Brea form. For this new species 

 the name Catharista occidentalis is proposed. Type specimen no. 12509, 

 Univ. Calif. Col. Vert. Palae. Body larger as judged by the skull, sternum 

 and pelvis; femur longer and heavier (107%); tarsus shorter (94%) but 

 stouter (109%); foot wider (116%); humerus longer (108%.). 



