Fossil Freshwater Mollusks from Oregon 



aperture not greatly expanded, roughly triangular in shape but 

 rounded at the outer and basal angles. Umbilicus about one-fourth 

 the diameter of the shell. Surface marked with lines of growth, 

 low even ridges or malleations. Diameter, 17 mm. ; altitude, 9.4 

 mm. ; width of umbilicus, 4.5 mm. 



The above description is based upon a good series of specimens 

 from University of Oregon locality 210, irom the vicinity of Warner 

 Lake, eastern Oregon. While the majority of the shells have a 

 higher spire and a narrower umbilicus than Meek's description 

 and figure show, these variable characters seem an insufficient 

 basis for the creation of a new species at this time. Material from 

 the original locality of binneyi is very badly needed for comparison 

 because Meek himself came to doubt the distinctness of the widely 

 and narrowly umbilicated forms he described from the same de- 

 posit. Should they prove to be the same, binneyi will take prece- 

 dence, having page priority. 



This species cannot stand as the type of Vorticifex as Call has 

 placed it because Meek used the subgeneric name only with tryoni. 

 It probably was his intention to have it apply to both species be- 

 cause he later so used it ; nevertheless he did not do so in his original 

 description and no construction can be placed upon his original 

 phrases to show that he intended binneyi to be in Vorticifex. In 

 his review of Meek's paper Tryon considered tryoni as the type of 

 the new subgenus, if priority in designation be desired. 



Hannibal has united both species and records them from the 

 Eocene, a very doubtful occurrence. I have not seen authentic 

 specimens of either but Meek's descriptions and figures certainly 

 do not indicate that they are the same. He had a good series of 

 specimens but did not find intergradation. 



Cotypes are No. 12,542 U. S. Nat. Museum from Kawsoh Moun- 

 tains, Fossil Hill, Nevada. 4 



VORTICIFEX CONDONI, N. SP. 

 Plate 4, figures 9 and 10 



Shells composed of 3*4 whorls, the nuclear 1% smooth and 

 polished. Next whorl after nucleus with 10 high ribs which con- 

 tinue with slightly lessening space between to the aperture. Suture 

 well impressed but not channeled. Apex raised but very little 

 above the plane of the body whorl. Periphery, rounded. Umbili- 

 cus wide, exposing whorls to the apex, a little more than one-third 

 as wide as the greatest diameter of the shell. The base of the shell 

 is obtusely angulated at the mouth of the umbilicus. Diameter, 

 4.4 mm. ; altitude, 2.1 mm. 



Type, No. 17 University of Oregon. Cast of same, No. 675, 

 Mus. California Acad. Sci. 



Type from University of Oregon locality 212, Warner Lake 

 Beds, eastern Oregon. Pliocene. 



Bull. 53, U. S. National Museum. 



[8] 



