The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-01-20
ANCIENT BWAN0
TUMBOS KNOWN
=. ouId Have Encountered FeroCiOus
Beasts i'm North America.

Inc western OF the
American continent has been so gem
orally recognized as one of the most
interesting regions OF the world for
the study Of the life of past geological
periods. and has therefore been so
assiduOusly explored for many years
by biologists and palaeontologists. that
the discovery OF a new field for inves-
legations of this nature almost within
the limits of a large city is distinctly
surprising. Yet this has recently been
made in the location of a great accu-
mutation of remarkably preserved re-
mains OF extinct animals in deposits
around prehistoric tar or asphalt pools
at Rancho La Brea, near Los Angeles
or the recent discoveries made in
the asphalt work. one of the most in
teresting is the finding OF a gigantic
lion. representing the group Of true
cats as contrasted with the saber-tooth
cats which have been found here so
abundantly. Although fragments Of
the skeleton had been known for
some time. the first recognizable speci-
men was obtained in December, 1908,
by DIT. William Rebb, Of Los Angeles.
The skull found by DR.. Bebb resem-
bles that OF the modern African lion
I in its general characters. but is larger
. ID.
recent or fossil. OF which any record
has been obtained by the writer. The
species seems To be the same as that
represented by large jaw fragment
obtained in 1896 in the vicinity of
iNatchez. Miss. This animal was given
the name American lion by Prof
Leidy. who first described il. 1t prob
ably had a wide range over North Am
erica in the last geological period.
1t is interesting To not the presence
in the same asphalt beds OF the great
American lion along with the sabre
tooth tiger. the two representing the
highest stages Of development OF the
cat group, and being at the same time
two OF the most formidable carniver-
Gus creatures that have existed. They
represent two quite distinct divisions
OF the cat family, which developed con
currently through many geological pc
lriodS, but reached their highest stage
of efficiency in these two types The
true cats. represented by the lion, al
Though Very ancient have been less
important in past geological periods
than the saber-tooths. They are, ap-
lparently, production of the old
World having come into America in
comparatively late geological time
| NS SdOtI-AOOln group. on the Otnef
hand, has fiourished for many periods
and was represented in North America
by numerous species and individuals
These two great groups of animals
represented by their most formidable
types, existed together in the environs
OF the Brea pools What battles were
Waged between them we can only con
lecture, but we may feel certain thai
encounters were not to be- avoided TIL.
isaber-tooths outnumbered the lions al
least five to one, judging from the
number of specimens found. The com.
bats were, however. not ordinarily be.
tween groups, but between individuals
The style of attack of the two animal,
must have been fundamentally differ.
ent Both animals Slashed and tor,
with their claws. The lion. with il;
powerful jaws and monstrous bitinl
muscles, throttled its prey shakin.
and twisting il as a modern cat deali
with rat or rabbit. The saber-tootI
slashed and stabbed with its knife-lik,
teeth, sometimes incapacitating it's ad
, versary with single blow. In som,
cases while lifting its head to strik
II gave an opening for the lion to At
, tack its throat and the battle wa
quickly ended. At other times a bloy
from the lions paw may have broker
: It's long. thin sabers. and rendered
a comparatively inefficient adversar