i

OCCASIONAL PAPERS

OF THE

CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

No. 42, 17 pages, 1 figure, 2 plates. September 15, 1963

PLIOCENE LAKE BEDS
NEAR DORRIS, CALIFORNIA

G Dallas Hanna and G. Clark Gester *

California Academy of Sciences

Abstract

The lake beds exposed by faulting on the northeast side of Butte Valley
near Dorris, Siskiyou County, California, are believed to be Pliocene in age.
Abundant and well preserved moUusks were collected and are described with
illustrations. Eight species were found, four of which are believed to be new;
one of these seems to represent a new genus. The deposits are correlated
with the Yonna Formation of southern Oregon.

General Geology

The geologic history of the ancient, as well as some of the present
lakes of northeastern California and southeastern Oregon present many inter-
esting problems. These are very closely related to the volcanic history of
that region since many of these lake basins were formed as the result of dia-
strophic and volcanic activity. One very interesting phase ofthis problem is
the age and sequence of geological events which produced the landscapes as
we now find them.

The objectives of this paper are (a) to identify, describe, and determine
as accurately as possible the geologic age of a number of fossil moUusks
which occur in outcrops of lake sediments near the town of Dorris, Siskiyou
County, California, and (b) to outline briefly some of the more salient geolo-

* Deceased November 26, 1959.
Printed from the Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Terry Publication Fund

2 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (Occ. Papers

gical conditions which obtain in that area, and to correlate these with those
found in closely adjacent areas, particularly to the north in the Klamath River
Basin, Oregon, as described by Moore (1937, pp. 1-180) and Newcomb (1958,
pp. 41-48). The overall problems are broad and cannot be solved within a
small area alone, but it is hoped that the data presented herein will serve to
augment the geological knowledge of the entire region.

The town of Dorris is situated on U.S. Highway 97, between Weed, Cal-
ifornia, and Klamath Falls, Oregon. It is about 21 miles south of the City of
Klamath Falls, and a little over 2V2 miles south of the Oregon-California boun-
dary line. Dorris is in the northwestern part of the U.S. Geological Survey Dor-
ris quadrangle (1950 edition), and lies in the extreme northeastern part of
Butte Valley, a flat, ancient lake basin, having an elevation of approximately
4200 feet. Meiss Lake, a shallow, marshy area, which is at times filled with
water, occupies about two square miles of area in the lower western part of
the Macdoel quadrangle, the geology of which was described by Williams (1949).

According to Williams, Butte Valley is: "a huge structural trough al-
most encircled by youthful fault scarps and several flat-floored grabens, in-
cluding Sam's Neck and Pleasant Valley, which project beyond the main de-
pression between parallel horsts." Williams also stated (p. 54) that whereas
Shasta Valley, a structural depression to the southwest of Butte Valley, was
probably formed at the close of the Miocene and prior to the growth of the
Pliocene shield volcanoes, Butte Valley itself and the adjoining fault scarps
were formed much later and: "Butte Valley itself is a complex down-faulted
basin deepest along its western side." That is, the down-dropped blocks that
effect Butte Valley are tilted toward the west. This is borne out by the pre-
sence of the fossiliferous Pliocene lake beds which outcrop a short distance
southeast of Dorris and their apparent absence elsewhere around the valley.

Butte Valley was once a broad relatively deep lake which probably has
persisted as a basin since early Pliocene time. Williams (p. 54) gave the fol-
lowing information:" Between Macdoel and Dorris, in Sec. 23, T.47N., R.IW.,
a well passed through 18 feet of sandy soil, then through 175 feet of clay be-
fore entering a bed of cinders. A well at Mount Hebron station ended in sedi-
ments at a depth of 184 feet. But apparently the full thickness of valley fill
has nowhere been penetrated by borings." Although no fossils are reported to
have been found in these wells, 175 feet of "clay" suggests lacustrine de-
position.

The surface of Butte Valley is very flat and is immediately underlain
by a fine sandy or silty soil. No evidence of tilting was observed in the sur-
face beds of the valley, but the location of Lake Meiss, on the extreme west-
ern side suggests a possible low tilting to the southwest as described by
Williams (1949, p. 54).

No. 42)

HANNA & GESTER: DORRIS LAKE BEDS

Two faults, one along the western base of the hills to the southeast of
Dorris, and the other along the western side of Cedar Point south of Dorris,
are apparently responsible for the elevation of the lake sediments. These faults
are in the immediate vicinity of fossil localities, A, B, C, and D, shown on
figure 1. The areas of old lake sediments in which the fossils are found are
small. Ten separate collections of fossils from this area have been obtained
by the Academy. The four localities shown by letters on figure 1 are the most
important.

Figure 1. Reproduction of a portion of U. S. Geological Survey Topographic
Map, Dorris, California, Quadrangle, edition of 1950. Fossil collecting localities A,
B, C and D are shown on portions of Townships 47 and 4 8 N., Ranges IE. & 1 W.,
M.D.B.&M., Siskiyou County.

Locality A. This is on the north side of a paved road which leads east-
ward from Dorris. Some poorly preserved shells have been exposed in small
excavations a short distance south of the farm house of W. H. Moore. Here
the shells are intermixed with gravel and coarse water-worn sand consisting
in large part of volcanic material. The whole mass is lightly cemented with
secondary calcite v/hich has also encrusted the fossils to some extent. Three
small excavations have been made here, which expose a total thickness of
not over 30 feet. The beds are nearly horizontal with a questionable dip of
2° to 3° to the northv/est. Two strata-bearing fossils are exposed and are sep-

4 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (Occ. Papers

arated by a few feet of nonfossiliferous coarse sandstone and volcanic detritus.
Only two species were found in these strata, Parapholyx packardi and Hanni-
balina dornsensis, both of which are found with others at Localities C and D.

Locality B. A roadside gravel pit is located here just to the north of
the same county road and about one-half mile southeast of Locality A. Lo-
cality B is 80 feet or more higher topographically than Locality A and may
represent a higher part of the lake-bed section. The intervening distance, how-
ever, is completely covered by volcanic detritus from the steep slope of the
adjoining hills. Only a few scattered fossils, all of Parapholyx packardi,
were found at this locality. They occurred in fine silty layers in a thick peb-
ble or gravel zone which was quarried for road material. At this locality and
some others nearby, pebbles of obsidian were present among the volcanic de-
bris. No nearby source for this volcanic glass is known.

Locality C. The De Vier Ranch locality is just above the valley mar-
gin east of an abandoned farmhouse and south of the county road. Here white,
limy lake sediments about six feet thick have been quarried and tunneled on
a small scale, reportedly as a prospect for lime. Beautifully preserved shells
are abundant in the exposed material, some of which is so unconsolidated
that the only preparation necessary for study is washing on screens. This fos-
siliferous zone, almost a coquina, is overlain and underlain by a firm calcite-
cemented, coarse sandstone or fine pebbly conglomerate. The beds are prac-
tically flat, with just a suggestion of a low easterly dip. It was impossible
to trace the fossil zones on the surface beyond the localities in which they
were exposed. At localities A and C, the underlying beds are masked by soft
sandy soil, but their elevation on a bench or terrace some 20 to 40 feet above
the general level of the valley floor suggests underlying strata firmer than
the soft valley alluvium. Similarly, the immediately overlying beds are ob-
scured by soft sandy soil and recent detrital material. The lacustrine section
is so covered by soil and detritus derived from the lava covered steep hills
which rise above, that an estimate of their total thickness is difficult. Some
nodules of limy material scattered about the quarry consist of well formed
tufa similar to that seen in such basins as Pyramid Lake, Nevada, and Salton
Sea, California. An attempt was made by us to separate the "coquina"-like,
white or cream-colored lime in which the quarrying was done from the overly-
ing sandy beds. It was thought that perhaps they represented two distinct
periods of deposition. However, upon concentrating the fossils from each they
were found to be the same, species for species except for the rare Lymnaea.
If the two layers do represent different periods, then the fossils in the sandv
beds may have been reworked from the lime. We saw no clear-cut evidence
that this was the case.

On the eastern side of the hills, a little over a mile from Locality B,
and at a similar elevation, the lake beds again crop out. Here they are gener-

No. 42) HANNA & GESTER: DORRIS LAKE BEDS 5

ally composed of soft siltstones, stratified sandstones, diatomaceous ash,
and impure diatomite. They are overlain by an olivine basalt, which is in
part vesicular and scoriaceous.

Locality D. Cedar Point is a small basaltic cinder cone, two miles
south of Dorris. Near the top of the cone, on the southern side, is an open pit
from which large quantities of red cinders have been quarried for surfacing
roads. Part way up the road to the pit, old lake beds are exposed in the road
cuts on the eastern side for a distance of a half mile or more. These are la-
custrine sediments composed of light-colored siltstones, ashy sands, and
clays, that dip 20° to 30° in an easterly direction. They also outcrop along
the road on the south side of the pit, where the dip is southerly, at a much
steeper angle. The lake beds were apparently raised at the time the cinder
cone was formed. No fossils were found along the road to the cinder pit; how-
ever, near the base of the cone on the southwest side and just west of a coun-
ty road, is an old gravel pit in which there are exposed some 40 to 50 feet of
firm, well bedded coarse sandstones and pebble beds which dip 30° to the
southwest. Near the base of this sand and pebble zone is a fine-grained, soft,
calcareous-impregnated sand containing numerous well preserved fossils.
This fossiliferous zone may be as much as four to six feet in thickness but
the beds from which most of the fossils were collected are only about one
foot thick.

Similar conditions exist here as were noted at localities A and C. The
fossiliferous beds could not be followed laterally beyond the confines of the
pit excavation. The western edge of the pebbly sandstone is only a little
above the valley floor, and the eastern and lowest part of the exposed section
is covered with sandy soil. This soil cover extends eastward about 200 yards
to the base of the steep detritus slope of basalt from the cone.

Correlation. Except for the fossils found in the Pliocene Tulare Lake
beds of the San Joaquin Valley, shells found in the Dorris localities are the
best preserved freshwater forms which have thus far been found in California.
However, the lakes of this period were widely distributed in the western states
and an extensive literature has accumulated. Some of this literature is re-
ferred to in the paleontological discussion below, but it is felt that more work
in the field and laboratory is required before much can be said as to exact
correlation of localities.

The nearest basin to Dorris is that of Klamath Falls, described by R.
C. Newcomb (1958). He gave a good account of the extensive diatomite and
other deposits of that area and named them the Yonna Formation. In this is
included the diatomite previously mapped by Moore (1937) which was believed
to be middle Pliocene. We think the Dorris fossils are definitely Pliocene,
but at this stage of investigation hesitate to make a closer age determination.

6 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (Occ. Papers

Actually, the basin of Lower Klamath Lake lies only about six miles
due east of Butte Valley and the two are separated by a range of low hills.
They may very well have been connected during the Pliocene. Both Moore's
description (1937, pp. 34-51) of the diatomite localities of the Klamath diato-
mite district and Newcomb's (1958) account of the Yonna Formation of the
Klamath River basin indicate lacustrine deposits in these areas similar to
those near Dorris. Moore assigned a Pliocene (?) age to the diatomite depos-
its and Newcomb (p. 46) stated that two collections of freshwater mollusks
from a locality near Yonna, Oregon (NW % of NW % Sec. 34, T.37S., R 11% E.)
were determined by G Dallas Hanna of the California Academy of Sciences in
1952 and Ten-ChenYen of the U. S. Geological Survey in 1958. These deter-
minations indicated a Pliocene age of the beds. This information seems to
justify correlating the Dorris deposits with the Yonna Formation, at least for
the present.

Most of the Pliocene lake basins of the western states are character-
ized by extensive deposits of freshwater diatoms, and it may well be that a
study of these minute fossils will furnish the basis for final age determina-
tion. Localities in the region which contain fossil mollusks are extremely
scarce and when found the preservation is often very poor. Nevertheless, at
the present time they have furnished the most reliable means available for
correlation.

Pleistocene and Recent freshwater mollusks are fairly well known in
the western states. The deposits and lakes usually contain such genera as
Lymnaea, Physa, Anodonta, and "Planorbis." Some of the lakes which appear
to have had a relatively long geological history contain genera of restricted
western distribution, such as Carinifex, Parapholyx, Lanx, and Pyrgulopsis,
and there seems to be sufficient evidence now to warrant the belief that they
have lived in the area continuously since the Pliocene. It may well be that
such organisms as mollusks were unable to live on a lake bottom of accumu-
lating diatom ooze. This situation exists at present in Upper Klamath Lake,
Oregon, at least to some extent. An attempt to dredge Mollusca there several
years ago failed to yield results, yet shells were found in abundance close to
the shore where waves kept the rocks and bottom relatively clear of diatoms.
Acknowledgments. The Dorris deposits (Locality C) were first brought
to our attention by James M. Kirby, geologist, Standard Oil Company of Cali-
fornia, who presented the California Academy of Sciences with a small collec-
tion of fossils in September, 1930. Another small lot was received October
21, 1940, from F. W. Shook of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Another lot (Locality A)
was received by the California Division of Mines in June, 1956, from W. H.
Moore of Dorris. We are indebted to these men for their interest and to the
following who have aided us in the field and laboratory: Charles W. Chester-
man, J.W.Durham, C.W.Jennings, A.G.Smith, and L. G. Hertlein. We also
wish to thank Margaret M. Hanna for the drawings shown on plate 1.

No. 42)

HANNA & GESTER: DORRIS LAKE BEDS

Collecting Stations from the Record Books of the
Department of Geology, California Academy of Sciences

2250. Freshwater fossils from 2^2 miles S. 40° E. of Dorris, Siskiyou Coun-
ty, California. Collected by J. M. Kirby, September, 1930.
31287. Freshwater shells and vertebra from Dorris, Siskiyou County, Cali-
fornia. Received, October 21, 1940, from F. W. Shook.

34806. Freshwater shells received by California Division of Mines from W. H.

Moore, "Flying Zebra Ranch," June, 1956. Sec. 32, T. 48N.,
R. IE. , MDB&M, 1% miles E. of Dorris, Siskiyou County, California.

34807. Freshwater shells from NE.%, Sec. 5, T.47N., R.IE., MDB&M. 2 miles

SE. of Dorris, Siskiyou County, California. Collected by G D.
Hanna and G. C. Gester, June, 1956, inside tunnel.

34808. Same locality as 34807 except material came from the slope just out-

side of tunnel and contained much volcanic sand. Additional ma-
terial was added to these collecting stations, June, 1958, by the
same collectors.

35029. Freshwater shells from 2^2 miles E. of Dorris, Siskiyou County, Cali-

fornia, from lowest bed exposed in south tunnel, north of paved
road. Collected by C. W. Chesterman, J. W. Durham, and C. W. Jen-
nings, March 25, 1958.

35030. Same locality as 35029 except from highest exposed beds.

35096. Freshwater shells from gravel pit just south of Cedar Point, 3 miles

SSE. of Dorris, Siskiyou County, California, S. center. Sec. 7,
T.47N., R.IE., MDB8sM. Collected by G D. and M. M. Hanna and
G. C. Gester, June, 1958.

35097. Freshwater shells and obsidian pebbles from gravel pit on N. side

paved road, 2^2 miles SE. of Dorris, Siskiyou County, California.
NE.y4, Sec. 5, T.47N., R.IE., MDB&M. Collected by G. D. Hanna
and G. C. Gester, June, 1958.

36173. Same locality as 35096. Collected by G. C. Gester, C. W. Chesterman,
A. G. Smith, and G D. Hanna, September, 1958.

Referring to figure 1, lettered localities are equivalent to the following

numbers: A

B

C

D

34806

35097

2250

35096

31287

36173

34807

34808

35029

35030

8 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (Occ. Papers

Descriptions of Fossils
Pisidium sp.
(Plate 2, figures 1-4.)

This species was found to be more abundant in the volcanic sand out-
side of the tunnels than inside (CAS Localities 35807, 34808). Variation in
shape is considerable; young individuals tend to be more circular than older
ones which are somewhat extended posteriorly. The gross dental pattern of
the hinge is characteristic of most species of the genus. In the right valve the
two cardinals are of about equal height with the posterior being somewhat
bluntly conical; the anterior is narrower and curves slightly upward and around
the posterior; the two laterals are of about equal size. In the left valve the
two cardinals are united above by a narrow plate in most adults; sometimes,
especially in young shells, the connection is very weakly developed; the two
anterior laterals are narrow and blade shaped; the two posterior more rounded.
In some right valves there is a slight rise of the hinge ridge just anterior to
the one mentioned; this gives the impression, when best developed, of a third
cardinal; it is often absent.

Externally some shells are very smooth with faint growth lines only; in
others the umbones are marked by heavy concentric ridges and grooves; in ex-
treme cases these cover most of the shell.

These notes may indicate the extreme variation present in a series of
shells which could hardly be reasoned to represent more than one species.
They illustrate the situation in this greatly over-named genus. In some hands
each specimen could well be called by a separate name, a procedure which
cannot serve a useful purpose from a geologist's standpoint. There are now
so many names from which to choose that any one assigned to any lot is lit-
tle if any better than guesswork. Since no meaningful name can be applied to
members of the genus at present under current rules of nomenclature, it seems
best to record fossil species merely as Pisidium sp. and give by illustration
and (or) description such characters as appear to be pertinent.

Little is known of the effect of environment on members of this genus.
It is well known that they have great ability to move from one body of water
to another because they are often found soon after reservoirs are established
and even appear in temporary pools. Birds have been suspected to be one trans-
port agency.

Since the above was prepared, an important revision of this group of liv-
ing species has been published by Herrington (1962). In this 128 named spe-
cies have been reduced to 34. Fossil forms in general are not treated. Rather
than attempt to make a specific identification of the Dorris shells at this time
it seems best to leave them under the designation given above.

No. 42) HANNA & GESTER: DORRIS LAKE BEDS 9

Parapholyx packardi Hanna.

(Plate 1, figures 9-12, 15, 16.)

Parapholyx packardi Hanna, Univ. Ore. Publ., vol. 1, no. 12, August, 1922, p. 6, pi. 2,
figs. 1-5. Type locality: "Warner Lake beds, eastern Oregon, Pliocene."

Parapholyx packardi corrugata F. C:. Baker, Nautilus, vol. 55, no. 4, 1942, p. 132,
pi. 8, fig. 19. Type locality: "North end Summer Lake, Lake County, Oregon,
from drilled well at a depth of 1080 feet. Thought to be of Pliocene age."

The most constant distinguishing character of this species is the pres-
ence of a blunt tooth or ridge on the columella; otherwise it is extraordinarily
variable. The shell may be smooth (except for growth lines), lightly ribbed,
partly ribbed, or heavily ribbed. It may be imperforate or narrowly umbilicate.
The spire may be flattened or elevated. The shell is much thicker and heavi-
er than Recent species and also larger than usual. Hypotypes from CAS Lo-
cality 34807 from 2^2 miles southeast of Dorris. Siskiyou County, California.
Collected by the authors. Pliocene.

The species is very abundant at Locality 34807 and also at Localities
34806, 35096, and 36173. Ribbed and smooth shells are about equally common.
According to some standards, at least, a dozen species could be named from
the present lots, but this procedure would serve no useful purpose in geology.

At locality 36173 this is an exceedingly abundant shell and the range
of variation is even greater than noted at 34807. In some individuals the spire
is flattened as in some forms of Carinifex, and there is a well developed car-
ina around the body whorl. If it were not for the presence of a good series
showing stages of intergradation into the more normal form, this carinate shell
would certainly be thought to be a distinct species or even genus. The blunt
tooth or ridge on the columella, however, is even here well developed.

F. C. Baker described the subspecies "corrugata" from a well in south-
ern Oregon. From the description and figures, it is evident that the supposed
differences can be duplicated in the Dorris collection.

Carinifex newberryi (Lea).

(Plate 1, figures 6-8.)

Planorbis neuherryi LEA, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 10, 1858, p. 41.
"Klamath Lake and Canoe Creek, California." LEA, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philadelphia, vol. 16, Jan. [AprilJ 1864, p. 5. [ Description amplified and Mega-
systropha provisionally proposed as a genus for the speciesj LEA, Journ. Acad.
Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, n.s. vol. 6, 1866, [Sept. 186?] , p. 153, pi. 23, fig. 68.

Carinifex neubcrryi (Lea), BlNNEY, Smithsonian Inst., Syn. of air-breathing mollusks
of North America, [Misc. Checklist], Dec. 9, 1863, P- H- [Listed in classifica-
tion adjacent to and in the same family with Plannrbis.]

10 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (Occ. Papers

Plate 1

Figure 1. Lanx kirbyi Hanna and Gester, new species. Paratype no. 12451
(Calif. Acad. Sci. Dept. Geol. Type Coll.) locality 34807 (CAS), iVi miles southeast
of Dorris, SiskiyouCounty, California. Length 20.5 mm.; width 18 mm.; height 12.3 mm.

Figure 2. Lanx kirbyi Hanna and Gester, new species. Paratype no. 12452
(Calif. Acad. Sci. Dept. Geol. Type Coll.) locality as in figure 1. Length 20.5 mm.;
width 17.9 mm.; height 11.3 mm.

Figures 3, 4. Lanx kirbyi Hanna and Gester, new species. Holotype no. 12453
(Calif. Ac-ad. Sci. Dept. Geol. Type ColL) locaHty data as in figure 1. Length 21 mm.;
width, 16.5 mm.; height 11.1 mm.

Figure 5- Lanx kirbyi Hanna and Gester, new species. Paratype no. 12454
(Calif. Acad. Sci. Dept. Geol. Type CoU.) locality data as in figure 1. Length 16.3
width 15.3 mm.; height 7.2 mm.

Figures 6, 7, 8. Carini/ex neivberryi (Lea). Hypotype no. 12455 (Calif. Acad.
Sci. Dept. Geol. Type Coll.) locality data as in figure 1. Diameter 20.7 mm.; height
13-3 mm.

Figure 9. Parapholyx packardi Hanna. Hypotype no. 12456 (Calif. Acad. Sci.
Dept. GeoL Type CoH.) localitydata as in figure 1. Diameter 11.4 mm.;height 9.9 mm.

Figure 10. Parapholyx packardi Hanna. Hypotype no. 12457 (CaHf. Acad. Sci.
Dept. Geol. Type ColL) localitydata as in figure 1. Diameter 10.5 mm.; height 11.4 mm.

Figure 11. Parapholyx packardi Hanna. Hypotype no. 12458 (Calif. Acad. Sci.
Dept. Geol. Type Coll.) locality data as in figure 1. Diameter 11.3 mm.; height 10.8 mm.

Figure 12. Parapholyx packardi Hanna. Hypotype no. 12459 (Calif. Acad. Sci.
Dept. Geol. Type Coll.) localitydata as in figure 1. Diameter 10.7 mm.; height 7.4 mm.

Figure 13. Lymna^a palustris (Miiller). Hypotype no. 12461 (Calif. Acad. Sci.
Dept. Geol. Type Coll.) localitydata as in figure 1. Diameter 9-8 mm.; height 16.0 mm.

Figure 14. Hannibalina dorrisensis Hanna and Gester, new species. Holotype no.
12462 (Calif. Acad. Sci. Dept. Geol. Type Coll.) locality data as in figure 1. Length
5 mm.; width 4.5 mm.; height 2.5 mm.

Figure 15. Parapholyx packardi Hanna. Hypotype no. 12460 (Calif. Acad. Sci.
Dept. Geol. Type Coll.) locality data as in figure 1. Diameter 12.6 mm.; height 10.5 mm.

Figure 16. Parapholyx packardi Hanna. Same specimen as figure 11.

OCC. PAPERS CALIF. ACAD. SCI., NO. 42 (HANNA & GESTER) PLATE 1

12

/^^

13

i

16

No. 42) HANNA & GESTER: DORRIS LAKE BEDS 11

This abundant species has the largest of the shells found in the Dorris
deposits. The lots collected have been compared with many series from other
places, living and fossil, and we feel obliged to refer this form to C newherryi,
the first species to be described. The original location was given as "Klam-
ath Lake and Canoe Creek, California." The latter is now known as Hat Creek
and from all information which can be gleaned from the narrative part of the
Pacific Railroad Reports, it seems reasonably certain that the place of col-
lection is now known as "Rising River" because ofthe large springs serving
as a source. Shells from there correspond closely with figures of Lea and
Binney. The height of the spire varies from almost flat to elevated and the
carinae on the shoulder and the base range from strong to almost rounded.
The same range of variations found in the Dorris fossils.

The shells found in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, are generally called
C. ponsonbyi Smith. Possibly Newberry collected there also and if the shells
which finally reached Lea came from there they were undoubtedly juveniles.
The young of C. ponsonbyi are difficult to distinguish from C. newherryi, but
the adults are much larger with an aperture expanded outwardly. Since there
was also a Lower Klamath Lake in California when Newberry was on his trip
with the Pacific Railroad Survey, it is possible he may have collected there.
This lake has now been drained in large part. In view of the uncertainty of
this record, Rising River, near Cassel, Shasta County, California, might be
chosen as a lectotype locality. The narrative of the overland expedition ac-
companied by Newberry was written by Abbot, 1857 (see pp. 59-61).

Hannibal ina Hanna and Gester, new genus.

Type species. H. dorrisensis, monotypic.

Description. Same as for the species.

The genus is named in honor of Mr. Harold Hannibal, who, for many
years prior to a serious illness, was an indefatigable worker with western
freshwater moUusks. We knew him in his prime and his energy and sincerity
were most commendable.

Hannibalina dorrisensis Hanna and Gester, new species.

(Plate 1, figure 14", plate 2, figures 7-9-)

Shell crepiduliform, nearly circular, about two whorls, sinistral; body
whorl evenly rounded and smooth except for fine growth lines; apex smooth
and light brown as preserved. Aperture with a smooth deck interrupted on the
left side by the convexity of the second whorl. Length 5 mm.; width 4.5 mm.;
height 2.5 mm.; measured with aperture lying flat on scale.

12 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (Occ. Papers

HOLOTYPE no. 12462, paratypes nos. 12463, 12464 (California Academy
of Sciences, Department of Geology Type Collection) from CAS Locality 34807,
T-fi miles southeast of Dorris, Siskiyou County, California, G. C. Gester and
G D. Hanna, collectors. Pliocene.

This remarkable shell is very common in the Dorris deposit. The shape
naturally recalls Payettia but on close examination they differ greatly. Other
than the fact that the two differ in direction of coiling, the shell structure of
Hannibalina is even, with no indication of the rugosity which is so prominent
in Payettia. Relationships of such shells must remain somewhat conjectural
until more information becomes available. Payettia is usually associated with
the Ancylidae although Dall inadvertently placed it with Planorbidae (see
Henderson, 1935, p. 267). For the present, Hannibalina would seem best to
remain in Ancylidae.

Lyitinaea palustris (Miiller).

(Plate 1, figure 13.)

Buccinum palustre MuLLER, Verm. Terr., vol. 2, 1774, p. 131.

Galba palustris (Miiller) F. C Baker, Lymnaeidae of North America, Chicago Acad.
Sci. Sp. Publ.,no. 3, 1911, pp. 298-322, pis. 26, figs. 17-37; pi. 33, figs. 1-25;
pi. 34, fig. 20.

A single well preserved specimen of this species was found at locality
34808, 2V2 miles southeast of Dorris, Siskiyou County, California, just out-
side of the tunnel.

Lymnaea palustris is a very widely distributed species in North Amer-
ica and Europe and is subject to great variation in different environments.
Baker gave over five pages of references to the literature in his monograph.
Since the species has not been recorded from strata older than Pleistocene
age, it was thought that its presence outside of the calcareous material in
which the tunnel (Loc. 34807) was dug might indicate two ages of deposition
at this exposure. This may in fact be the case and the shells obtained out-
side of the tunnel (Loc. 34808) in the volcanic sand may be partly reworked.
However, it would be unsafe to reach this decision on the basis of a single
specimen of a species as highly variable as L. palustris.

Lanx kirbyi Hanna and Gester, new species.

(Plate 1, figure I-5.)

Shell broadly ovate, apex high, nearly central; growth lines evident,
but little indication of undulations; marginal surface nearly flat. Length, 21
mm.; width, 16.5 mm.; height, 11.1 mm.

No. 42) HANNA & GESTER: DORRIS LAKE BEDS 13

HoLOTYPE no. 12453, paratypes nos. 12451, 12452, 12454 (California
Academy of Sciences, Department of Geology) from CAS Locality 34807, from
ly/i miles southeast of Dorris, Siskiyou County, California.

The species is named for Mr. James M. Kirby who first brought this de-
posit to our attention.

Three fossil species of l^anx have been described in addition to the
present one. The first was L. undulatus (Meek, 1870, p. 57; 1877, p. 186, pi.
57; 1877, p. 186, pi. 17, figs. 12, a, b), from Kawsow Mountains, Nevada, now
known as Hot Springs Mountains (see Henderson, 1935, p. 49, for information
on this locality); L. moribundus Hanna (1922, p. [9], pi. 1, figs. 8, 9. "Warner
Lake beds, eastern Oregon, Pliocene."); and L. «e:;flfl?enszs MacNeil (1939,
p. 360, pi. 37, figs. 16, 17. Eureka, Nevada, Cretaceous). The first two have
rough sculpture but are about the same size as L. ktrhvi. The last is smaller
and nearly circular in form.

The shells are common in the Dorris deposit, especially immature forms.
The shape is somewhat variable. One of our specimens, (Paratype no. 12454,
plate 1, figure 5) is nearly circular and is a thicker shell. It may represent a
different species, but until more material becomes available it would seem
best to consider it an individual variant.

Hydrobia margaretana Hanna and Gester, new species.

(Plate 2, figure 10.)

Shell small, turbonate with three whorls; apex smooth, remainder heavi-
ly ribbed parallel to growth lines; 13 ribs on last whorl; aperture nearly cir-
cular; slightly umbilicate. Height, 1.6 mm.; diameter, 1.3 mm.

HOLOTYPE no. 12472, paratypes nos. 12473-12476 (California Academy
of Sciences,Department of Geology Type Collection) from CAS Locality 34807,
2V2 miles southeast of Dorris, Siskiyou County, California.

Several hundred specimens of this minute species were picked out of
the material collected. Variation is slight, usually indicated by less distinct
ribbing which may be due to abrasion.

The systematic position of the species is difficult to determine, chief-
ly because of the uncertainty regarding the generic taxonomy of the minute
freshwater gastropods. Therefore, we have followed Henderson (1935, pp. 194-
199) in the use of Hydrobia for many of the fossil forms. Among those noted
in the literature, however, there seems to be no heavily ribbed species such
as the present one.

The species is named for Margaret M. Hanna who made the drawings to
illustrate the present paper.

14 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (Occ. Papers

^^i' Plate 2

Figure 1. Pisidium sp. Hypotype no. 12465 (Calif. Acad. Sci. Dept. Geol.
Type Coll.), from locality 34807 (CAS), 2*2 miles southeast of Dorris, Siskiyou
County, California. Length 3-5 mm.; height 2.9 mm.

Figure 2. Pisidium sp. Hypotype no. 12466 (Calif. Acad. Sci. Dept. Geol.
Type Coll.), locality data as in figure 1. Length 3-4 mm.; height 3-0 mm.

Figure 3- Pisidium sp. Hypotype no. 12467 (Calif. Acad. Sci. Dept. Geol.
Type Coll.) locality data as in figure 1. Length 2.0 mm.; height 1.7 mm.

Figure 4. Pisidium sp. Hypotype no. 12468 (Calif. Acad. Sci. Dept. Geol.
Type Coll.) locality data as in figure 1. Length 2.3 mm.; height 1.8 mm.

Figures 5, 6. Platytaphius chestermani Hanna and Gester, new species. Holo-
type no. 12469 (Calif. Acad. Sci. Dept. Geol. Type Coll.) localitydata as in figure 1.
Diameter 2.8 mm.; height 1.0 mm.

Figures 7, 8, 9. Hannibalina dorrisensis Hanna and Gester, new species. Holo-
type no. 12462 (Calif. Acad. Sci. Dept. Geol. Type Coll.) locality data as in figure 1.
Length 5 mm.; width 4.5 mm.; height 2.5 mm.

Figure 10. Hydrobia margaretana Hanna and Gester, new species. Holotypeno.
12472 (Calif. Acad. Sci. Dept. Geol. Type Coll.) locality data as in figure 1. Diam-
eter 1.3 mm.; height 1.6 mm.

OCC. PAPERS CALIF. ACAD. SCI., NO. 42 (HANNA & GESTER) PLATE 2

i

\

X

.".j . • -*

/*^ :1

8 ■''^'

6

10

No. 42) HANNA & GESTKR: DORRIS l.AKH BKDS 15

Hydrobia sp.

Eight rather poorly preserved specimens of a slender species of Hydro-
bia were found in the screenings from locality 34807. The shells are smooth
with rather deep sutures and are more slender than //. imitator Pilsbry. They
are perhaps closer to small, smooth forms of //. protea Gould of the Colorado
Desert, California, than any other western form, but under the circumstances
we hesitate to assign a name to them.

Platytaphius chestermani Hanna and Gester, new species.

(Plate 2, figures 5 and 6.)

Shell low, convex in apertural view, whorls three, flattened above and
below; periphery sharply carinate; apex smooth and not sunken; suture deep;
a well pronounced spiral groove just below the suture, one-fourth the distance
to the periphery; growth lines distinct; base concave; umbilicus wide; body
whorl with a depressed groove inside the periphery and one-fourth the distance
to the umbilicus; growth lines very distinct on the concave base; aperture thin,
very oblique. Diameter 2.8 mm.; height 1.0 mm.

HOLOTYPE no. 12469, paratypes nos. 12470, 12471 (California Academy
of Sciences, Department of Geology Type Collection) from CAS Locality
34807, 2V2 miles southeast of Dorris, Siskiyou County, California. Pliocene.

This remarkable shell is common in the deposit southeast of Dorris; 24
well preserved specimens were obtained in the finer siftings from our collec-
tion. We know of no close living relative in North America, but one species,
the type of the genus (P. heteropleurus) lives in Lake Titicaca, South Ameri-
ca. The genus has been discussed by Henderson and Rodeck (1934, p. 268)
who described two species, (P. malheurensis and P. milleri), from a Pliocene
deposit 16 miles southwest of Vale, Oregon. The genus name was originally
proposed as a section of Planorbis by Pilsbry and Vanatta (1924, p. 51) for
"heteropleurus," described by the same authors earlier, (1896, p. 562); Bak-
er, Frank C, (1945, p. 120) concurred in the conclusion that the group was
worthy of generic rank and it was thus recognized by Hubendick (1955, p. 502,
figs. 128-141) who dissected specimens of P. heteropleurus. This species
differs from the other three which are known, all of which are larger, have a
sunken apex and a more rounded body whorl toward the marginal carina.

The species is named for Charles W. Chesterman of the California Di-
vision of Mines and Geology for much assistance to us on many field trips.

16 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (Occ. Papers

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