Examines dead squirrel. turned and ran over to the dead squirrel; circled about him at a distance of 2 or 3 feet for about 3 minutes, inspecting him with great apparent curiosity. He wanted to go closer and would start toward the squirrel but draw back again. He then began digging operations a few feet away, pausing now and then to go over and have another look at the squirrel. Aside from a slight start when the shot-gun was discharged, neither bird showed any sign of fear (though it was manifestly impossible to see all three creatures at the same time) and did not seem to connect me in any way unfavorably either with the noise or the collapse of the squirrel--in fact, as noted, one ran directly toward the source of the sound. I had assumed that the thrashers were interested in angle- and cut-worms in the lawn and, while this proved to be true, it was noted that they frequently dig up one angle worm after another, laying each carefully by the side of the hole and then proceed to the next location without eating any of them. Again I have seen them occasionally eat one of the angle worms, usually a small one. In a small patch of "Scotch moss" (Arenaria caespitosa) it is cut worms that they get. I have seen an angle worm come up voluntarily directly under the foot of a thrasher and the bird, feeling it there, reached down and scraped it aside with its bill impatiently and paid no further attention to it. I do not know yet, from my own observations, what constitutes the principal fare of these birds. They are evidently ground feeders almost exclusively. In the suet mixture, they eat both the suet and the corn and wheat which it contains. Singing while digging. They often sing a low, continuous and soft song to themselves while digging, without appearing to open their bills. It is extremely varied and ventriloquial in character, containing at times, mixed with the thrasher's own phrases, softened adaptations from the quail, flicker, California Jay, robin and either the Ruby-crowned Kinglet or one of the vireos. (Which not yet determined). Food. Angle-worms rejected Ventriloquism Mimicry