(12) The longer twigs, particularly the forked ones, cause quite a bit of trouble by catching on the small branches of the oak, and are sometimes dropped to the ground, but nearly always picked up again. I tried to see if the female would take one from me and use it, but while she came over and looked at it, she was much more interested in finding out whether I had anything for her to eat. I believe that if I had just the twig that she needed at the moment, and caught her in the right mood, she would take it. As the nest grows, they begin to get on top of it, standing near the middle and placing twigs around the circumference. Sometimes both birds are on top at the same time. Today Mr. Sampson saw one of the birds "hand" a twig to the other, the second bird placing it. Later this was repeated. February 22nd. They were not working on the nest when I went out this morning, but were digging in various places not far away. I gave the male meal-worms and the female meal-worms and soft food which she ate from my hand. The male is still standoffish. After this work on the nest was resumed at once, but not prosecuted with much vigor and they loaf- ed a good deal during the forenoon. After luncheon I went out to watch them work, but they were not there and I could not find them anywhere. They would neither answer nor come to call. At last I noticed that all of the other birds were scarce and all I saw were frozen, so that I could get within a few feet of any bird that I might see without its moving, if I approach- ed carefully. This was true of Gambel and Song sparrows, Quail, Juncos, Hermit thrushes and to a lesser extent of California jays. This meant hawks. I soon located a Sharp-shin, but could not get a bead on him. When he left, the birds began to thaw and I found the thrashers at last under a pyracantha, very meek. They would talk to