E. Heske 1980 Journal Vicinity of Playa Escondida, Sierra Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico dec. cont. herps. we followed the stream from the cattle pasture until it reached the forest below the garden. I caught a young Basiliscus (?) asleep on one of the herbaceous leafy plants near the stream. David found a single Bolitoglossa rufescens and a small Hylid-like frog. We also found one of the traps I lost here last spring-- and it contained the skeleton of a Heteromys. It figures. Returned to the hotel and turned in ~ 2230. Vicinity of Playa Escondida, Sierra Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico December Arose ~ 0645. Sunny, clear skies. Looks like bad weather finally passed through. Went to check traps near biological station first -- I caught 2 Heteromys desmarestianus and two P. mexicanus on one line, the other got zilched except for the tail of one Heteromys. Most traps appeared to have been visited, however, and prebait was gone from a good 75%. A few were full of ants. David caught 3 Heteromys and 3 Peromyscus, Dulce caught 2 Heteromys, 1 Sigmodon hispidus, 10ryzomys couesi, and 2 Peromyscus. The area was heavily disturbed -- much open field, lots of newly slashed or cleared patches, cattle grazing nearby. Returned to Playa Escondida and checked traps there ~ 0930 -- I caught 1 more Heteromys and 3 Peromyscus, Dulce caught 1 Peromyscus. Spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon karyotyping, taking tissues, preparing specimens. See D.S. Rogers' catalogue for data on animals. About 1530 Duke and I each took 40