The San Francisco call., 1909-11-28

diately preceded it and to the pliocene
and miocene epochs of the tertiary
period. Thus far no specimens have
been identified barking back farther in
the earths history than the cenozoic
age. The gigantic saurians and other
creatures of the mesozoic age are yet
TO be found there.
It is not strange that this Immensely
valuable scientific discovery should not
have been made earlier. The asphalt
lake is still claiming its victims in the
form of colts, calves, herons, ducks
and other latter day animals and birds
When the quarrying of the asphalt was
undertaken the bones of the entrapped
creatures caused more or less incon-
venience to the workers, who thought
nothing of .hem save as nuisances to
the work. 1t was not until the eyes
of scientific men fell upon them that
the real character of the remains was
disclosed.
In his report of the discovery Pro-
fessor Merriam gives an interesting ac-
count of how it came about. 1t was in
1906 that his attention was called to.
the deposit by Il. M. Anderson of Los
Angelo
$50 far as l have been able to
learn" says Professor Merriam "W
w Orcutt of Los Angeles was the first
person to recognize the remains at
Rancho la Brea as evidently fossils or
belonging to the geological period pre-
ceding the present In December, 1905,
F. NJ Anderson visited Rancho la Brea
with Mr.. Orcutt and obtained a num-
Der of fragmentary specimens, includ-
ing portions of the saber tooth tiger
skull. The specimens were placed at
my disposal l Nsited the beds very
soon after that and the University of
California commenced the work of col
lection almost Immediately. 1t has
Ger continued up TO the present time.
We have now had almost a year of
continuous work"
Am6ng the animals found and fully
identified are extinct species of the
mastodon, mammoth, elephant. giant
sloth, saber tooth tiger, bison, camel,
horse, gigantic wolf. bear, deer, coyote,
rabbit, squirrel, peacock, duck, condor,
goose, pelican, heron and an endless
variety of insects.
Among the latest and most interest,".
ing finds are the remains of the saber
tooth tiger (smilodon californicus), the
quaternary peacock (pavo californicus)
and an extinct huge cat Called TO selis
atro~ leidy)
The saber toothed tiger was a dread
full animal of the quaternary period,
and derived its name from two long,
deadly tusks protruding from its upper
jaw This ferocious beast was as large
as an African lion, and, in addition to
its long saber teeth, had immense claws
with which to seize and lacerate its
victim.
Altogether" says Professor Mer-
riam, the destructive apparatus of the
saber tooth tiger was one of the most
deadly combinations that has been
found in any flesh eating animal. but,
like the delicate mechanism OF a high
powered gun, there seem also to. have
been great possibilities of becoming
disabled; and if the long, thin sabers
were once broken the saber tooth
would be less effective than other cats
It is interesting to note that In large
number of specimens found there Is
evidence of fracture or loss of both
sabers long before the death of the
animal, so that the extreme specializa-
tion of this creature may have led to
a stage at which accidents occurred so
commonly as ultimately to destroy the
type
over a score of specimens of the
saber tooth tiger have been found in
Rancho la Brea-
1t was only in August of the present
year that the peacock and the rare
species OF extinct cat were discovered
and identified.
Up to the present time this peacock.
ancestor of our present peacock, was
known only in India and a restricted
area in Europe.