The San Francisco call., 1904-07-03
FIND EXTINCT
ANIMAL TYPES
University Scientists Dis
cover a Great Mass OF
Bones in Potter Creek Cave
NEW SPECIES OF BEAR
DIR. Sinclair Tells of Ex-
plorations in Prehistoric
Grave and Their Results
Berkeley Office San Francisco Call,
214s Center Street, July .,


214S Center Street, July ..
In addition TO the traces Of primitive
man in California that the Potter
Greek cave, in Shasta County, has
given TO the scientists Of the Univer-
sity of California, the famous old cav
ern has been prolific in its yield of the
remains of extinct animals. The ac-
count OF the cave and its interesting
fauna that DR.. William J. Sinclair of
the anthropological department has is
sued contains a list of vertebrate spe-
cies represented by remains eXhumed
from beneath the limestone mantle Of
the cave. Twenty Of these are ex-
tinct types.
OF this remarkable collection of
bones. composed OF some 46o9 frag-
menis. the most interesting are the
skull ard limbs of a large extinct bear
classed as an unknown species. Sew
eral complete limbs of this gigantic
beast, With all the elements in their
natural positions. We're discovered en-
bedded in the soft clay in the main
chamber of the cave.
DR.. Sinclair says that there is little
definite evidence indicating that the
animal lived in any of the existing
galleries Of the cave, and as il could
not easily have climbed into the cham
Der where its remains were found, 1t is
possible that it fell in. succumbing in
time TO the ravages of hunger. There
is no other way to account for the
presence of the remains in the cham
Der.
The remaining fragments Of the col
lection represent parts of the skeletons
OF the mastodon, bison, prehistoric
horse. wolves, modern bears. lynxes
and foxes. Nearly all of the specimens
gathered are dissociated, with seldom
a complete skeleton. Associated parts
Of the skeletons of a few squirrels and
wood rats, a snake and a bat were
found in the gravel layers.
In all cases." DR.. Sinclair says, the
bones have lost their organic matter
completely and adhere to the moisten-
ed fingers like kaolin. Some of them
are weather cracked, indicating that
they lay for time on the surface. Oc-
casionally some of the large limb
bones were found broken across, where
they had become softened by percolat-
ing water and were unable to support
the weight of the earth above them.
Many of the bones have been gnawed
by rodents. The material requires no
preparation except to wash off the ad-
herring clay. The bones are usually
white, but often show yellow and faint
blue discolorations.
At present no vertebrate animals ex-
cept bats live within the perpetually
darkened portion of the cave. Wood
rats nest near the entrance and birds
occupy the ledges. Some spiders of a
strange species, apparently sightless,
live on webs spread in the crevices in
the cave walls and on an altar at one
end OF the cavern.
The Potter Creek cave consists of a
system of galleries lying in a belt of
limestone, on the north side of Potter
Creek, Shasta County, from which it
takes its name. 1t is 1880 feet above
sea level and about 500 feet above the
level Of the McCloud River, which in
the prehistoric age swept past its
mouth. There is an arched entrance
communicating with 4 smaller cham
Der, through which admittance is
SN'nSN ~ @ AolAOM PdSodSehdg. BE-
yond this point is perpetual darkness.
Following this passage to the left, ii is
found to terminate abruptly on the
margin Of a great pit, where a conven-
lent stalagmite pillar offers a secure
point Of attachment for a rope ladder.
Upon descending forty-two feet the
explorer finds himself in a room 107
feet long, 80 feet wide and rs feet high.
The floor of this great chamber was
covered with deposits of limestone,
gravel and volcanic ashes. Beneath this
envelope were entombed the animals
now exhumed. Excavating was car
ried on under the direction of the uni
versity scientists. who were compelled
TO resort TO blasting wherever the de-
posit resisted the attacks of picks and