J.D. Anderson 1958 Ambystoma m. croceum July 5 1/2 mi. NW Ellicott Rd Sta, 4 mi. W. Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., Calif. This week - after seeing two last week, turned over an old RR tie in clearing & caught a mole Scapanus latimanus, another probable predator. Ward Russell tells me Scapanus = relatives Batrachoseps. July 20 1/2 mi. W Ellicott Rd Sta, 4 mi. W. Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., Calif. 2 juven. croceum collected from under dead board (11 am PDT) in willow thicket (60-70% canopy cover). Cl. temp 15.8 & 15.6°C. Temp under board 15.8°C. When board was lifted the animals were in contact, one turned around completely and ran at top speed, directly into a small mounded burrow. It has gone 6" into burrow before it was dug out. Burrow ran close to surface 1" + down. Soil sandy loam & quite dry. This was apparently a learned escape route judging by the speed & direction of the parts. 1 juv taken from under a dry, fragmenting log in same willow thicket. 50% canopy cover. It was resting at opening of a burrow with just head protruding. Turned quickly & attempted to race down the burrow. Cl. temp 16.8°C. Soil very dry under log - a dusty layer on surface. Soil in burrow darker with moisture. 2 juvs cl. temp 15.8°C & 15.4 taken from under small willow branches 6" by 2" and 8" x 4". Temp under branches 15.0 & 15.4°C respectively. 1 juv taken from under a large willow log 10 ft x 8". Found at edge of log where there was a moist patch of soil, not dry. Cl. temp 16.7°C.