(7) the male looking on from a yard or so distant. (I am only guessing at the sexes). See Appendix A, Note 1. Increasing confidence. I had long before reached the conclusion that they were little afraid of me, and were more afraid of the open where the hawks could see them. Certainly they are more afraid of these birds than of me, for I have had them take refuge under a bush at my elbow on seeing a hawk pass overhead or sit in a nearby tree. From the first they have not hesitated to turn their backs on me and dig, no matter how close I might be, and have done this for minutes at a time. They now (Feb.) "talk" to me at times and sometimes look me up if I do not take the initiative. Since Jan. 23rd. the tamer one has never refused to take worms To reach me, from my hand if hungry, often running and sliding if on a bank, and bringing down a small avalanche. The "Chaparral". Along the street frontage of this place there is a high sloping bank, as high as 12 feet in places. I have planted this with shrubs and trees that require little moisture and in places it is like a dense chaparral. Although this is not strictly the proper designation for this growth, it will be referred to as such in these notes, as the name has become fixed locally. There is a wire fence along the top of the bank covered with roses and honeysuckle principally. The exposure is to the south and the thrashers love to lurk here in concealment. They can just squeeze through the mesh, but if there is a twig in the way, they have to move it to one side with their bills; usually it will flop back again several times before the bird can get through. Reaction to obstructions. As a rule they are very patient and persistent in their attacks on it that the effect is comical. Sometimes they get angry with it, give it a few hard pecks and then climb over the fence after all to get the proffered worm. Good runners. They do not like to fly, much preferring to run. They are capable of considerable speed on the ground, and when running, look like small road-runners.