CitSci 2021 Workshop

[left page] 16

MARCH 5, 1949. COFRE DE PEROTE

TYPE 6: THIS SALAMANDER IS REMARKABLE FOR THE SLIMNESS OF ITS BODY, AND THE LONG, THIN LEGS. IT IS A UNICOLOR ANIMAL, BEING A GREYISH BROWN ALL OVER. THE LEGS ARE CONSIDERABLY LIGHRER THAN THE BODY.

MARCH 5, 1949, LAS VEGAS.

WE WENT FROM COFRE TO THE VILLAGE OF LAS VEGAS, AND THEN 2 MILES FURTHER DOWN THE HIGHWAY INTO A LARGE PEDREGAL - A LAVA FLOW, LONG SINCE SOLIDIFIED & COOLED.

BEFORE WE GOT LOCATED AND SETTLED IT WAS 5 O'CLOCK, SO I USED THE EVENING TO FIX THE SALAMANDERS GOTTEN THAT MORNING.

MARCH 6, 1949 - LAS VEGAS.

I STARTED OPERATIONS THIS MORNING ON A SMALL HILL WHICH HAD DIVIDED THE LAVA FLOW, AND HAD NO LAVA ON IT, BEING AS AN ISOLATED ISLAND. I TURNED HARDLY 3 LOGS BEFORE I FOUND A CONOPSIS, DEEP IN THE ROT OF THE LOG. IT WAS VERY PASSIVE, AND MADE NO ATTEMPT, TO BITE, BUT DID TRY TO BURROW. I FOUND ONE OF THE STRIPED SCORSPORUS UNDER ANOTHER LOG. THIS WAS ALL I FOUND IN THE AREA OUTSIDE THE LAVA FLOW. THE TREES IN THE LAVA WERE HEAVILY COVERED WITH BROMEGLADE, ALL FULL OF WATER, SO I SPENT 2 HOURS TEARING THEM APART, LEAF BY LEAF, I DIDN'T FIND A SINGLE THING, MY EXPERIENCE WITH PEDREGAL IS THAT IT IS AWFULLY SHORT ON REPTILE 7 AMPHIBIAN LIFE, AT LEAST AT THIS SEASON.

THE LAVA FLOW CAME DOWN A SMALL VALLEY, AND THE HOLES WERE NOT COVERED, AFTER MUCH WORK

[right page] 17 IN THE PEDREGAL, I WENT OVER TO THIS UNCOVERED HILL. I FOUND A TOLUCA AND 2 STRIPED SCELOPORUS UNDER LOGS THERE. THE TOLUCA WAS IN THE ROT OF THE LOG, THE SCELOPS MERELY UNDER THEM.

MARCH 7, 1949 WE WENT FROM HERE TO AFTER SPENDING NIGHT IN VACAPA. PLAN DEL RIO, THE LOWEST SPOT WE HAVE HIT YET. IT IS ABOUT 800 FT. IT IS IN FAIRLY FLAT COUNTRY, INTO WHICH THE RIVERS HAVE CUT QUITE DEEPLY. THESE DEEP CUTS HAVE WATER, USUALLY, AND QUITE OFTEN VERDANT VEGETATION. BANANAS ARE GREEN IN THE VALLEYS. THE HILLS ARE LIMESTONE, AND THE HIGHER AREAS ARE VERY DRY, WITH CACTI AND SO ON.

I WENT DIRECTLY TO BANANA GROVE AT THE FOOT OF THE HILL BELOW OUR CAMP IN THE P. M. I SAW SEVERAL SCELOPORUS VARIABILIS ON TEH DUSTY LIMESTONE PATH DOWN WHICH I COULDN'T CATCH. THE GROVE WAS FULL OF FALLEN BANANA TREE BOLES, AND WITH GOOD SIZED LIMESTONE ROCKS. ONE OF THE FIRST ROCKS TURNED PRODUCED 3 BUFOS ^[illegible]^AND A FROG I THINK WAS AN ELEUTHERODACTYLUS. - QUITE SMALL. THE BUFOS FOLLOWED A HUGE TARANTULA DOWN A SHORT HOLE, BUT THEY CAME OUT FAIRLY RAPIDLY. NEXT I FOUND A LARGE FAT [illegible] UNDER A BANANA BOLE, IN A HOLLOWED OUT SPOT. HE GAVE QUITE A SCREAM AS I PICKED HIM UP.

I WORKED ACROSS THE GROVE TO A SMALL SPRING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VALLEY, ALSO LIMESTONE, AND QUITE DENSE WITH VEGETATION. ROCKS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE SPRING PRODUCED 2 RHADINREA, 1 OEDIPUS (FOR LACK OF A BETTER NAME), AND A VERY LARGE CNEMIDOPHORUS. I DIDN'T GET THE LATTER ANOTHER OF THE SMALL ELENTHS WAS UNDER A ROCK HERE.

18

[left page] MARCH 7, 1949. PLAN DEL RIO (CONTD)

I ALSO SAW A LEIOLOPISMA THAT ESCAPED ME.

THIS EVENING, AFTER SUPPER, I HEARD BUFO OF SOME SPECIES CALLING VERY LOUDLY DOWN THE HILL I TOOK THE FLASH AND WENT DOWN, BUT THEY WERE IN TERRAIN COMPLETELY UNKNOWN TO ME, SO I COULD NOT FIND THEM. I CAUGHT A STRING OF FISH FOR BAILEY, AND RETURNED TO CAMP MAC SAID HE KNEW HOW TO REACH THE POND I WANTED, SO WE WENT BACK AGAIN. HE TOOK ME TO THE DAM, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. I THEN FOLLOWED THE CALLS BACK AWAYS; THEN HAD TO WAIT A BIT I HEARD A NEW CALL WHILE WAITING - A SOUND EXACTLY LIKE THE QUACKING OF DUCKS. IT STARTS SLOWLY AND PICKS UP SPEED TOWARD THE END I FOLLOWED IT TO SEE WHAT IT WAS, AND FOUND A RATHER SLOW FLOWING SECTION OF THE STREAM. THIS SMALL POND HAD BOTH THE BUFOS AND THE QUACKERS IN IT. I FINALLY RAN DOWN THE QUACKS, AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A HYLA - AND I AM CERTAIN IT IS BAUDINII. I GOT ONE CLASPING PAIR, AND I FOUND EGGS DEPOSITED, IN THE SACK THE NEXT DAY - TWO MASSES. THEREFORE, HYLA BAUDINII BREEDS IN THE EARLY PART OF MARCH - AT LEAST IN THIS LOCALITY. I GOT 5 OF THEM.

I ALSO FINALLY GOT SOME OF THE BUFO. THEY LOOK MUCH LIKE COMPACTILIS ^CRISTANTUS^ TO ME. THEIR CALL IS TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES EXACTLY THE SAME AS THAT OF B. AMERICANUS, I COULD DECTECT NO DIFFERENCE.

MACINTOSH SAW A SNAKE WHICH WAS NEAR THE WATER, BUT WE COULDN'T GET IT. IT MUST HAVE BEEN A GEOPHIS FROM THE DESCRIPTION, A GOOD SIZED RANA CARRIED ON A GUTTERAL CONVERSATION ALL EVENING, BUT WE COULDN'T GET ANY.

[right page] 19 MARCH 8, 1949, PLAN DEL RIO.

SPENT THE MORNING COLLECTING LIZARDS WITH .22 DUST SHOT. COLLECTED A DOZEN OR SO. BOTH CNEMIDOPHORUS AND SCELOPORUS WERE ABUNDANT IN THE LIMESTONE HILLS, IN VERY DRY PLACES. THERE WERE MANY ON THE FLAT PLAIN OR PRAIRIE AREAS, BUT MORE WERE ON THE SLOPES, WHERE THE BOULDERS FORM LARGE CREVICES, AND THE SUN DOESN'T SHINE QUITE SO BRIGHTLY AND ISN'T SO HOT. I SAW A VERY LARGE LIZARD WHICH STAYED TOO FAR AHEAD OF ME TO GET A SHOT AT IT, THAT GOT UP ON ITS HIND LEGS AND RAN, BIPEDALLY. IT WAS MARKED LIKE AN AMEIVA (OR [illegible]), ALTHOUGH I'VE NEVER HEARD OF BIPEDAL [illegible] IN THESE GENER THE SCELOPORUS ARE ALWAYS QUICK MOVING AND MAKE SHORT DASHES, MOVING RAPIDLY AND STOPPING. (THEY ARE ALL S. VARIABILIS HERE, I BELIEVE). THE CNEMIDOPHORUS, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE SLOWER, AND ARE ALMOST CONSTANTLY IN MOTION, CRAWLING DELIBERATELY, APPARENTLY ON THE HUNT. THEY DRAG THEIR TAILS BEHIND THEM, WAKE THE SCELOPS LIFT THE TAIL HIGH WHILE MOVING. CNEMIDOPHORUS IS VERY SNAKELIKE IN ITS MOVEMENTS.

WE RETURNED TO THE SPRING I FOUND SO PRODUCTIVE YESTERDAY TO BATHE, AND I TURNED THE ROCK AGAIN WHICH HAD SHELTERED THE LARGE CNEMIDOPHORUS (ALL REFERENCES TO THIS GENUS AT THIS COLLECTION POINT MAY BE REFERABLE TO [illegible]). HE WAS BACK THERE, AND THIS TIME HE SCUTTLED OFF UP THE LIMESTONE SCOPE. I SHOT HIM EASILY. IT WAS DEFINTELY THE SAME BEAST, AS I HAD PULLED HIS TAIL OFF THE DAY BEFORE IN A DEEP CREVICE.

WE DROVE FROM HERE TO A NEW ROAD TO HUATUSCO, WHICH WE TOOK TO GOBE CORDOBA. THE DISTANCE TO HUATUSCO WAS THRU A VERY DRY, PLAINLIKE, LOW AREA, WITH CACTI AND PEPPER TREES AGAIN. WE CLIMBED UP TO HUATUSCO AND

[left page] 20 MARCH 8, 1949, cont.

FOUND HEAVY FOREST AND BANANA, COFFEE AND TOBACCO PLANTATIONS. THIS DRIVE IS THROUGH BREATHTAKING COUNTRY, WITH DEEP CANYONS AND LUSH TROPICAL FORESTS. I COULD CALL IT HUMID TROPICAL FOREST, MYSELF.

WE DROVE TO POTRERO VIEJO TO THE FORBES HACIENDA NEXT. FORBES DAUGHTER (MARIANA) TOOK ME TO A SPOT WHERE HYLA VENULOSA ABOUNDED. THEY LIVE IN THE VERY MOIST BASES OF BANANA TREE BOLES. THE TREES GROW IN WRAPAROUND LAYERS, AND CATCH WATER AND HOLD MUCH MOISTURE. THE FIBER ARE DEEP WITHIN THESE LAYERS, AND ARE SOMETIMES, IN OLD TREES, WAY INTO THE PULPY CORE. WE TOOK NINE WITH NO TROUBLE. WALTER DAHLQUIST TOOK ME NEXT TO THE REAR OF THE HACIENDA TO A LARGE PLANT HE CALLED "ELEPHANT EAR". THE PLANT CONSISTS OF LONG PETALED, ENORMOUS LEAVES, ALL FROM A CENTRAL LOW BASE. HERE AGAIN THE PETIOLES FORM A CHUTE WHICH FUNNELS WATER TO THE BASE WHERE IT IS STORED, DAHLQUIST EXPECTED TO FIND SOME HYLA [MICRO???] HERE FOR ME, HAVING FOUND THEM THERE BEFORE. BUT WE FOUIND 3 HYLA ^STAUFFERI^ UNKNOWN TO HIM, AND ANOTHER H. VENULOSA.

WE LUNCHED WITH THE FORBES, AND DROVE TO A CAMPING SPOT 8KM. ENE OF POTRERO VIEJO ^[illegible]^ (DATA FROM DAHLQUIST) CALLED OJO DE AGUA. THIS WAS A SHARP HILLSIDE NEAR LARGE SUGAR CANE FIELDS, THE HILL WAS COVERED WITH DENSE JUNGLE GROWTH, MORE HUMID TROPICAL FOREST. WE COLLECTED 3 ANOLIS (SAGREI?) AND A LEIOLOPISMA BEFORE DARK. I SPENT THE EVENING FINISHING THE SPECIMENS FROM PLAN DEL RIO, AND COULDENS NIGHT COLLECTING.

THE ANOLES HAVE A BRILLIANT ORANGE DEWLAP WHICH THEY EXPAND AND CONTRACT AS THEY SIT ON BUSHES IN THE JUNGLE TANGLE. THEY HAVE A DEFINITE DORSAL PATTERN OF CHEVRONS, WHICH APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR EASILY, HOWEVER.

[right page] MARCH 8, 1949 POTRERO VIEJO, CONT.

THE LEIOLOPISMA WAS IN A HEAVY ROCK SLOPE, DEEP IN THE ROCKS. I SHOT HIM TO GET HIM.

MARCH 9, 1949 POTRERO VIEJO.

HEAVY RAIN THIS MORNING. I HAD TO STAY IN CAMP WHILE THE MAMMALOGISTS PACKED UP THEIR TRAPS, AND THEY DIDN'T SKIN WHEN THEY GOT BACK, SO I HAD LITTLE TIME FOR COLLECTING. I WENT AFTER SOME BROMELIADS I HAD SEEN ALONG THE TRAK THE NIGHT BEFORE, AND I HAD TIME TO TEAR 2 APART BEFORE I LEFT AT THE HONK OF THE TRUCK'S HORN. EACH OF THE BROMELIADS PRODUCED A SALAMANDER. MACINTOSH BROUGHT IN A HYLA HE FOUND IN A SMALL HOLE INSIDE THE CAVE WHICH IS THE SOURCE OF THE RIVER.

THE SALAMANDERS WERE QUITE DIFFERENT IN COLORATION WHEN COLLECTED. THE SMALL ONE WAS LIGHT GREY DORSALLY, WITH BROWNISH GRAY SIDES. THE LARGE ONE WAS DULL REDDISH ABOVE WITH DARK BROWN SIDES. I CARRIED THEM ALIVE IN A VIAL, HOWEVER, AND A FEW HOURS LATER THE SMALL ONE HAD CHANGED COLOR UNTIL HE CLOSELY RESEMBLED THE LARGER [symbol female ♀]. A FEW HOURS LATER THE LARGE ONE WAS CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL COLOR OF THE SMALLER. THIS RANGE OF COLOR VARIABILITY IS SURPRISING, TO SAY THE LEAST, AND I'M TRYING TO GET COLOR PICTURES OF IT.

MARCH 10-13 - MEXICO CITY.

MARCH 14, NEVADA DE TOLUCA.

WE DROVE UP TOLUCA IN THE AFTERNOON, LEAVING M. C. ABOUT 11 A.M. THE ROAD CLIMBS THE MOUNTAIN FROM

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THE WEST. THE ROAD IS QUITE GOOD, AND RUNS TO THE LAKE IN THE CRATER. TREE LINE IS AT 13,000 FT. , AND I COLLECTED A SCELOPORUS MICROLEPIDOTUS UNDER A LOG RIGHT AT TREE LINE. WE WENT BACK DOWN HILL TO 13200 FT. TO CAMP. THERE WERE SEVERAL SPRINGS IN AN ALPINE MEADOW AND A GOOD SIZED CREEK. A ROCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM COVERED THE AMBYSTOMA, WHICH I COLLECTED. FARTHER DOWN THE STREAM A ROAD BRIDGE HAD DROPPED IN AND CREATED A POND, TO WHICH I RETURNED IN THE EVENING TO FIND MANY AMBYSTOMA ACTIVE. IT APPEARED TO BE A BREEDING CONGRESS, AND I TOOK MANY NOTES ON THE GROUP. ALL SPECIMENS COLLECTED SEEMED TO BE MALES, HOWEVER, WITH GREATLY SWOLLEN ANAL LIPS. SEVERAL DEPOSITED SPERMATOPHYTES AFTER BEING PUT IN PRESERVATIVE. COMPLETE NOTES ON MY OBSERVATIONS ARE ELSEWHERE; UNDER THE SPECIES.

MARCH 15, TOLUCA

FOUND 3 S. MICROLEPIDOTUS UNDER A SINGLE PIECE OF BARK ON A FALLEN LOG ON A HILLSIDE, AT 12,200. THE REST OF THE DAY WAS SPENT IN OBSERVATION OF THE SALAMANDERS IN THE POND. THE EVENING WAS QUITE COLD, AND THE POND FROZE SOLIDLY DURING THE NIGHT. MY THERMOMETER REGISTERED 22[symbol degrees] AT 7:00 AM MARCH 16. THE SALAMANDERS ACTIVITY STOPPED AT ABOUT 11:00 PM., BECAUSE OF THE COLD.

MARCH 16, TOLUCA.

WE LEFT THE CAMPSITE VERY EARLY AND DROPPED DOWN TO 11,500 FT. I GOT A LARGE SERIES OF SCELOPORUS HERE, ON THE ABUNDANT FALLEN LOGS. IT WAS STILL IN THE PINES HERE. I GOT MICROLEPIDOTUS CHIEFLY, WITH SOME AENEUS.

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MARCH 17, A CERRO SAN ANDRES, MICHOACAN.

SPENT THE NIGHT OF 16TH IN CIUDAD HIDALGO, AND DROVE ON TO THIS SHORT CHAIN OF PEAKS. THE ROAD IS 4 MILES WEST OF HIDALGO, TURN LEFT AND FOLLOW ROAD TO SAN PEDRO (DE AGUARRO, OR SOMETHING SIMILAR), WHICH IS TWO MILES FURTHER, ON THE DIRT ROAD. OUR CAMP IS FURTHER ALONG THE SAME ROAD, 9 MILES ON THE SMALL VILLAGE CALLED RANCHO DE AXOLOTL IS JUST OVER THE HILL FROM OUR CAMP. WE DROVE ON A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE FURTHER TO A GOOD SIZED LAKE, CALLED LAGUNA LARGA, AT 9,200 FT. THE LAKE IS ARTIFICIAL, THE RESULT OF DAMMING A SMALL STREAM BETWEEN TWO MOUNTAINS. I COLLECTED RANA PIPIENS, SCELOPORUS MICROLEPIDOTUS AND AN AMBYSTOMA ON ITS SHORES. DROVE WITH MCVAUGH TO A LARGE SULPHER LAKE, FULL OF BOILING HOLES. IT LOOKED LIKE A MUDDY MESS, BUT THE WATER WAS NOT [illegible] AT ALL. A BLOWHOLE NEAR THE LAKE WAS RIGHT AT BOILING, AND HAD BEEN USED OFTEN TO SCALD FEATHERS OFF CHICKENS. I CAUGHT 2 PIPIENS ON A HILLSIDE IN A COLD SPRING.

A SHORT STOP WHILE MCVAUGH TOOK SOME SPECIMENS OF "CAPULIN" THE CHERRY HERE, NETTED ME A HYLA WHICH IS EITHER A [illegible] OR [illegible]. I THINK I HAVE SEVERAL OF THE 1ST FROM HERE. THERE WAS LITTLE WATER HERE, BUT AN ALMOST DRY SPRING DAMPENED THE AREA SLIGHTLY. I ALSO PICKED UP A SCELOPORUS HERE. HYLA DESCRIBED ON NEXT PAGE.

MARCH 18, 1949. CERRO SAN ANDRES.

FOLLOWED A STREAM WHICH EMPTIES INTO THE ALPINE MEADOWS IN WHICH WE ARE CAMPED UPSTREAM. FOUND AMBYSTOMA ORDINARIUM, RANA PIPIENS AND S. MICROLEPIDOTUS ALONG AND IN THE STREAM.

[left page] MARCH 17, 1949. - CERRO SAN ANDRES

NOTES ON FROG BEFORE PRESERVATION (HYLA LAFRENTZI) GOLDEN-ORANGE COLORED AROUND PAIRED DARK SLITS ON BACK. THE ENTIRE ANIMAL HAS A GOLDEN SHINE IN THE OLIVE GREEN SKIN. THE GROUND COLOR IS LIGHT GREEN, THE SIDE STRIPE IS BROWNISHGREEN, THE DORSAL SIDE OF THE FINGERS AND TOES IS QUITE GOLDEN COLORED. - OR BRONZY.

MARCH 19, 1949 - CERRO SAN ANDRES DROVE TO TOWN FOR SUPPLIES WITH MCVAUGH, SO THAT I COULD COLLECT LOWER DOWN. AFTER GOING TO TOWN WE WENT BACK UP THE MOUNTAIN TO A STREAM AT 7,800 FEET. CHIEFLY PINE, WITH SOME OAKS. FLOOR WAS HEAVILY COVERED WITH PINE NEEDLES, AND THERE WERE QUITE A FEW ROCKS ON THE SLOPE, TURNING ROCKS PRODUCED A CONOPSIS. MCVAUGH COLLECTED A SALVADORA BAIRDII AND A HYLA [BISillegible] FOR ME ON THE SLOPES. I CAUGHT ANOTHER OF THE SMALL HYLA, WHICH ARE EITHER LAFRENTZI OR EXIMIA. THE HIND LEG HAS THE T.T. ART. TO THE EYE, BUT THEY ARE COLORED EXACTLY AS THE LAFRENTZI FROM THE D. C.

MARCH 20, 1949 - CERRO SAN ANDRES. WORKED UP THE CANYON BEHIND THE CAMP. THIS CANYON IS QUITE DAMP, AND WELL SUPPLIED WITH SPRINGS. THERE IS A FAIRLY DEEP STREAM IN IT, FLOWING RAPIDLY. SOME OF THE SPRINGS ARE QUITE HOT, PRACTICALLY BOILING AS IT COMES OUT. RANA PIPIENS IS VERY ABUNDANT IN THE STREAM, AND THERE ARE MANY TADPOLES IN THE STREAM. THERE ARE NO AXOLOTLS IN IT, HOWEVER. I GOT A SERIES OF 21 NYLA - AGAIN THELAFRENTZI-EXIMIA THING. THEY WERE ALL UNDER BARK ON DAMP LOGS LYING ALONG AND

[right page] MARCH 20, 1949, CONT. ACROSS THE STREAM. THERE WERE SEVERAL TIME 3, 4 OR 5 UNDER A SINGLE PIECE OF BARK.

TOLD AN INDIAN BOY I WANTED SOME AXOLOTLS FROM THE LAKE AT THE RANCH, AND HE BROUGHT IN 37 SALAMANDERS AND 4 FROGS. HE SAID THEY CAME FROM THE LAKE. THEY WERE ALL TRANSFORMED BUT ONE.

MARCH 21, 1949, - CERRO SAN ANDRES. WENT TO THE LAKE TO CHECK ON THE BOY. FOUND THAT HE HAD GOTTEN THE AMBYSTOMA BY TURNING OVER ROCKS AND LOGS AT THE EDGE OF THE LAKES THERE, NOT IN THE WATER.. I GOT AN EXTRA SERIES THERE UNDER LOGS, AS MUCH AS 300 YDS FROM THE WATER. I ALSO GOT PSEUDOEURYCEA BELLII UNDER THE LOGS. THE AMBYSTAMA VARY MUCH IN COLOR, SOME PRACTICALLY LACK YELLOW OTHER ARE LIBERALLY SPOTTED WITH YELLOW. THEY ARE QUITE ABUNDANT THERE. THERE ARE AXOLOTLS THERE ALSO, I TOOK SEVERAL FROM THE STREAM BETWEEN THE TWO LAKES. THE SECOND LAKE IS RAPIDLY DRYING UP, WHICH MAY BE A FACTOR IN TRANSFORMATION. PIPIENS, PIPIENS TOADS, AND A MUCH LARGER TOAD WERE PLENTIFUL ALONG THE STREAM AND IN THE LAKE.

MARCH 22, 1949. ENROUTE. PICKED UP A PITUOPHIS D.O.R. STOPPED FOR NIGHT AT LAKE PATZCUARO.

MARCH 23, 1949 - ENROUTE. COLLECTED A CONOPSIS UNDER A ROCK AT PATZCUARO. HE WAS QUITE BROWN, WHILE ALL THE OTHERS HAVE BEEN GRAY.

GRGE- 56.0 at cane Eld 670{?)- San Pedro AE Apuamo 69.6 at HGMY 730 {?}

MARCH 23, 1949. - CONT.

DROVE TO CIUDAD GUZMAN, TURNING OFF THE HGHY SOMEWHAT SHORT OF THE HGHY TO [???LAN]. THE ROAD RUNS PAST TWO VAST DRY LAKES, ONE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY OFF THE MAIN HGHY TO GUADALAJANA. THERE IS A SHORT STRETCH OF MT. ROAD BEFORE WE CAME DOWN INTO THE FLAT. WE STAYED LOW PAST A SECOND DRY LAKE AND SAYULA, THEN CLIMBED A LOW RANGE OF MTS TO GUZMAN. WE OVERNIGHTED IN GUZMAN. (HOTEL ANGUIANO - THE WORST YET).

MARCH 24, 1949. NEVADA DE COLIMA. THE ROAD TO THE MOUNTAIN IS THE FIRST TO THE RIGHT FROM THE SW CORNER OF THE PLAZA IN GUZMAN. IT FOLLOWS AN OLD DRY [illegible] (PROBABLY FLOODED IN THE RAINY SEASON TO THE HILLS. OUR CAMP SITE IS ON THE NW SLOPE OF THE MOUNTAIN, WITH THE PEAK NOT VISIBLE. IT IS SHUT OFF BY A LONG HIGH ESCARPMENT. THE ROAD PASSES [illegible] AND JASMIN TO EL ISELTE AND ENDWS THERE AT AN OLD SAWMILL. WATER FOR THE TOWN MUST COME DOWN FROM HIGH IN THE MOUNTAIN VIA AN AQUEDUCT MADE OF HOLLOWED LOGS. THIS IS OUR H2O SUPPLY HERE. DR. MCVAUGH CAUGHT AN [illegible] FOR ME ABOUT 7600 FT., ON THE ROAD UP. GOT 2 EUMECES AND A SCELOP MICRO, AT THE OLD MILL. WE MADE CAMP IN THE DIRTIEST, DRIEST SPOT YET.

MARCH 25, 1949. - NEVADA DE COLIMA.

SPENT THE WHOLE DAY WORKING UP AND DOWN HILLSIDES AND CANYONS, TURNING LOGS AND RIPPING BARK. GOT TWO SCELOP MICROS. THIS IS THE DRY SEASON HERE WITH A VENGEANCE. THERE IS NO DAMPNESS ANYWHERE. I WORKED JUST AS HARD IF NOT HARDER HERE THAN ANY PLACE YET, BUT

[right page] MARCH 25 - 1949, CONT.

GOT NOTHING. THERE WAS NO "LITTLE RAINY SEASON" HERE THIS YEAR - NO RAIN IN JANUARY - AND THE RESULT IS NOTHING STIRRING.

MARCH 26, 1949 - NEVADA DE COLIMA.

WENT UP THE AQUEDUCT WHICH SUPPLIES THIS WHOLE AREA WITH WATER TO ITS SOURCE. THIS IS ABOUT 1500 FT HIGHER AND ABOUT 2 MILES SE OF [EL I SOLTE??]. THE WATER IS CAUGHT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER FLOWING OUT OF THE GROUND AND PIPED AWAY, SO THIS IS JUST AS DRY AN AREA AS THE REST OF THE MOUNTAIN. I CAUGHT ONE PSEUDOEURYCEA BELLII TO PROVE I PUT IN A DAY'S WORK. HE WAS UNDER A LOG VERY NEAR THE AQUEDUCT. THE AREA IMMEDIATELY ABOUT THE SPRING IS ENTERABLE ONLY BY LADDER, AND IS NOT GRAZED BY CATTLE. URTICA, THE NETTLE, IS ABUNDANT AND PAINFUL. HELMUT SAYS HE HAS NEVER MET IT IN MEXICO BEFORE THIS. THE GRASS IS HIGH AND QUITE GREEN, AND BUSHES ARE NUMEROUS AND LARGE. IT WAS STILL TOO DRY FOR ME, HOWEVER.

MARCH 27, 1949 - NEVADA DE COLIMA

TRIED BROMELIAD COLLECTING TODAY, AFTER GETTING ANOTHER BELLII UNDER A LOG IN A DEEP CANYON. THIS SPECIES IS APPARENTLY INURED TO DRYING, AND CAN STAND MUCH MORE OF IT THAN ANY OTHER SPECIES I'VE SEEN DOWN HERE. THE BROMELIADS PRODUCED NOTHING. THEY SEEM TO BE QUITE SPECIFIC IN THEIR CHOICE OF HOST TREE, BEING CONFINED TO OAKS, AND POSSIBLY TO ONE SPECIES OF THEM. THEY DON'T GROW ON PINES OR EUCALYPTUS AT ALL. THE BROMELIADS ARE QUITE DRY, WITH NO REAL POOLS, JUST MOISTURE AT THE BOTTOMS OF THE LEAVES.

[left page] 36 APRIL 10, 1949 - CONT. THE ROADS ARE LINED WITH STONE FENCES AND THORNY BUSHES, AND THESE ARE ALIVE WITH LIZARDS. AMEIVA AND CNEMIDOPHORUS ABOUND ON THE GROUND, AND THE FENCES HAVE CTENOSAURA EVERY FEW FEET. I COLLECTED A SERIES OF THE CTENOSAURS, WITH A WONDERFUL COLOR VARIATION. 2 OF THE 12 COLLECTED WERE SHOT OUT OF A TREE, ONE IN A HOLE ABOUT 35 FEET UP, THE OTHER ON A LIMB ABOUT 20 FEET UP. THE TREE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A RANCHO YARD, WHICH IS FAIRLY WELL SURROUNDED BY HOUSES. THEY LIVE ON HOUSES AND BARN ROOFS QUITE COMMONLY. THEY LIE ON THE TOPS OF THE STONE FENCES, WITH THEIR HEADS RAISED, AND SLIGHTLY RAISED ON THE FORE LIMBS. THEY ARE EASILY VISIBLE FOR A LONG DISTANCE.

I GOT A CNEMIDOPHORUS ALONG THE ROAD, AND R. PIPIENS UNDER A LOG NEAR A SMALL STREAM WHICH PURPORTS TO HAVE TURTLES, ALTHO I SAW NONE.

RETURNED TO TOWN ABOUT 2 P.M, AND SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY FIXING UP THE CTENOSAURA.

APRIL 11, 1949. EN ROUTE TO SIERRA. DROVE TO CHIANTI WHERE WE LOADED OUR GEAR ON MULES, LEFT THE TRUCK, AND STARTED UP THE MOUNTAIN. ON THE WAY UP WE PASSED THRU THE FOLLOWING SMALL VILLAGES:

THE TRAIL WINDS THRU PASSES BETWEEN MOUNTAINS WHICH STILL PERPETUATE THE DRY LOOK OF THE VALLEY. THERE IS MUICH SCRUB OAK AND DRY GRASS. I COLLECTED AN ANOLIS IN AN ELEPHANT EAR, IN A DRY CREEK BED, ABOUT 3500 FT. WE HIT OAK FOREST ABOUT

[right page] 37 APRIL 11, 1949, SIERRA DE AUTLAN 4600 FT., AND PINES AT ABOUT [blank space]. WE CAMPED EARLIER THAN WAS NECESSARY IN A VALLEY THAT CONTAINED A GOOD NUMBER OF SPRINGS GIVING RISE TO SMALL STREAMS, WHICH COMBINE INTO A GOOD SIZED RIVER. I FOUND A RHADINAEA UNDER THE FIRST LOG I TURNED, AND FOUND NOTHING ELSE THE REST OF THE NIGHT. THE ALTITUDE OF THIS CAMP WAS 5000 FT., AND THE AREA US CALLED MANANTLAN BY THE NATIVES.

APRIL 12, 1949 - SIERRA DE AUTLAN, 7600 FT. WE CONTINUED OUR TRIP ON UP TO 7600 FEET TODAY. UP A CANADA WHICH CONTAINED CONSIDERABLE WATER. WE CLIMBED THE HILLS TO THE EAST OF MANANTLAN. THE CANADA IS THE FIRST TO THE EAST OF THE CREST. WE WENT ALONG THE MOUNTAIN ABOUT 2-3 MILES AND CAMPED NEAR A SPRING. THE WOODS ARE NOT HEAVY, BUT THE TREES ARE LARGE AND TALL. THE UNDERGROWTH IS NOT THICK EXCEPT IN THE FLOOR OF THE VALLEY.

AFTER LUNCH, I LOOKED ABOUT FOR GOOD COLLECTING PLACES, AND ENDED UP CLIMBING THE HILL. IT IS QUITE STEEP, AND IT TOOK ME 2 HRS TO GO UP. IT IS THE HIGHEST POINT IN THIS VICINITY, HOWEVER, AND PRESENTS AN ADMIRABLE VIEW. THE NATIVES SAY THAT ON A GOOD DAY ONE CAN SEE BOTH MANZANILLO AND GUADALAJARA FROM IT. I COULDN'T.

I FOUND A [??GERRENOTUS ??] IMBRICATUS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 9200 FT., UNDER A LOG.

HELMUT CAUGHT AN ANOLIS FOR ME AT THE CAMP THIS A.M. BEFORE WE LEFT FOR UPHILL.

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APRIL 13 1949 - SIERRA DE AUTLAN

This area, although wet, has been heavily burned over recently - within 2 years or less, I would judge, and burned hard. All of the logs are burned some [unclear]croar taru[/unclear]. I believe that this heavy and according to Indians, repeated burning is very detrimental to [unclear]help[/unclear] stuff. I think it cleans it out of the area, and they are awfully slow to come back. It may explain the paucity of material here. Anyway, I worked hard all day, and got nothing at all.

Helmut got me another [unclear]Geramonotus[/unclear] on the mountain, however, so the day wasn't wasted.

APRIL 14 1949 - SIERRA DE AUTLAN

Worked southeast of camp along the streambed, finding many very good places for specimens, wonderful habitats, and so on. After a full morning's work I caught a Salvapoar drinking at a small pool of water in a dry section of the creek. It is amazing that such good typical habitat can be so barren of specimens.

Went downstream in the afternoon and met Bob Wilbur, all excited. He had found salamanders in the stream. He had two for me, and they were Gilled Ambystbma. Theye were living in the quiet pools formed occasionally by the rapidly flowing stream. I collected a couple more, and went to camp to make a dip net to facilitate getting a series. The thing is undoubtedly new.

Bob also killed a Thamnopnis for me which had been lying alongside a pool. He also got a Hyla from a tree he cut down.

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APRIL 14 1949 - SIERRA DE AUTLAN (continued)

I fashioned a dip net out of cheesecloth and spent the night catching a series of the Aribystomb. After getting the adults I found Juveniles in muddy pools upstream, and I got a few of them. There seems to be no sign of sexual activity at this time, and the Juveniles may be from this year's hatch, which would give them enough time to grow up before the rains and heavy swollen streams appear.

APRIL 15 1949 - SIERRA DE AUTLAN

Spent the morning preparing the salamanders. I tried a new technique, in order to get a full tail, with outstanding fins and gills. It worked quite well. Instead of using a pan to fix them, I dropped them in a large can of formalin, with nothing to touch them. The gills flared out and the tail fin was fully expanded. They fixed that way fairly well. The same thing worked fairly well for the Juveniles I have.

Helmut and I went out and took pictures of the pools this P.M. He went to a lot of trouble and hard work, and I think they'll be fine. I then collected a few more of the salamanders, took notes on them and their habitat and so on. The botanists brought in a scelop? and a Storeria from the top of the mountain, and Helmut brought in a Storeria he found on the trail. The Storeria key to Storerioides, but they sure don't look like the one I got on Colima. These Autlan specimens will all bear closer checking.

[unclear]pcmA - NEVADO VeccRA)[/unclear] IS DUE EAST