The nest is getting more compact and is showing the effect of the lining operations. Mr. Brock came up early this afternoon to see the thrashers. When we looked at the nest it was evident that it was fast approach- ing completion, as the lining was well along. The birds were not near the nest, but one was located on the far side of the oval lawn. I called her over and she took worms from my hand in the presence of Mr. Brock. The other soon came, taking worms tossed to him. True to form, they both started down the road running toward the nest 60 yards away. I told Mr. Brock that we would probably find them work- ing when we got there, having previously told him before feeding them that this was their habit. We found them gathering lining. I then showed him how they would stop work and come to me for worms. One of them then went to the drinking dish a couple of yards away and jumped into the middle of it as if to bathe; but instead, drank. The action was odd. Possibly on account of the shape of the bill, the bird scooped up the water by stooping so that the breast and gthroat touched the water, the base and the tip of the bill were submerged, with the upper portion at the middle point above the sur- face. In this position she would then make a forward scooping motion and raise the bill only to a horizontal position. We discussed the matter of identification of sexes. I mentioned the difference in eye color of this particular pair, pointing out that, of course, this might not be a fixed sexual difference, but one due to difference in age. Mr. Brock said that he had examined many live thrashers of both sexes and that the males have darker throat patches and more pro- nounced dark lines (Malar streaks?) running down the sides of the throat from the base of the bill, and, furthermore that the male