S.B. Kurtz 1970 Journal 5 6 Feb. 107 Amphibian Collecting Trip Junet. Merced and South Fork Merced Hwy 140, Mariposa Co, Calif. Temperature and moisture conditions which would seem ideal for Hydromantes but found none. The walls of the tributary were quite steep 30-45° the bed of the stream got steeper. The canyon bottom was often choked with scrawny canyon oaks. We captured quite a number of juvenile and adult Taricha tarica sierrae - only one was taken in a pool of water and was in the "slick-skinned" phase. Down toward the S Fork of the Merced a half dozen were seen crawling out on the surface. As RCS found one he called "Roots foot-toot, I found a Newt." I quickly picked up on this theme making