Mekriam. ] 



Pliocene and Quaternary Canidae 



289 



It is embedded in coarse sand and gravel cemented by asphaltum. 

 Associated with it is the anterior portion of a Mylodon skull 

 containing the roots of the molars. The character of the matrix 

 and the presence of Mylodon indicate the Quaternary age of the 

 beds in which it was found. 



The locality given for the jaw is Oil Springs, Oil Canon, 

 Tulare County. The writer has not been able to obtain any 

 definite information concerning this place. There is an Oil Cation 

 a few miles north of Asphalto, Kern County, and an Oil Springs, 

 Tar Canon, in the western part of Kings County. 



Relationships. — The dimensions of the jaw from Oil Springs 

 are nearly the same as those of the mandible from near Livermore 

 Valley referred to this species by Leidy. The form of the teeth 

 can not be distinguished from that of Leidy's specimen. The jaw 

 appears slightly heavier below the sectorial but the difference 

 may be due to distortion of the fragmentary anterior portion. 

 In both specimens Mr has a well developed metaconid and the 

 hypoconid is slightly compressed laterally. 



This form is, so far as can be seen, a typical dog. It is 

 considerably larger than any existing American wolf and has a 

 more massive jaw and a heavier sectorial. The specific identity 

 of the Californian form with Leidy's type from the Ohio Valley 

 might possibly be called in question, as we do not know 

 corresponding portions of the skeleton from the two regions. 

 The discovery by Cope of a very large wolf similar to C. indian- 

 ensis in collections from the Quaternary of Texas shows that the 

 eastern species ranged well out toward California, and makes it 

 easier to believe that the form from this state is really to be 

 classed with it. 



Measurements. 



Height of jaw below protoconid of Mr 



42 



mm. 



" " " " anterior end of 



Thickness of lower border of jaw below Mr 



Length from posterior side of Mi to anterior side of 



35 

 16.5 



Antero-posterior diameter of Mr 

 " Pt 



canine. 



120 



35 



canine 



17.5 

 13 



