Two mammalian types, occurring in a late Pliocene fauna from the Coso Mountains, California, have already been described. Among the more abundant forms in this assemblage are the horses of the genus Plesippus. These are of particular interest not only for purposes of correlation of the geologic horizon in which they occur, but also because of their phylogenetic relationships. Opportunity is taken therefore to make a comparative study of characters of the species from the Coso Mountains with reference to nearly related forms found in beds of similar age and to define more clearly, than has been previously attempted, the position of Plesippus in the lineage of the horse group
