dig and preen a few feet away, but when I stirred up the snake with a twig, she would come and look, sometimes as close to the snake as one foot without showing hostility. She made no clucking sound, but talked a little in soft tones. Her manner was exactly as if she considered it my show and was doubtful what part she was supposed to assume. Finally she went to one of her favored low branches to preen and left the snake--which was still by my feet--to do whatever it chose. She had taken the snake by the tail 2 or 3 times, only to drop it when he turned. Also she had pecked 4 or 5 times admidships. If the snake had run, she undoubtedly would have chased it. Brownie went away and I left the snake where he was. Jays find the snake. 2:05 P.M. About 1:50 there was a tremendous outcry by the Califor- nia Jays towards the old oak, so I went to investigate, suspecting that the little snake might be its cause. In the lower branches of the tree there were 5 or 6 screaming jays, on the ground near the base of several the tree, all within a radius of ten feet of the trunk were Wren-tits, one Vigors Wren, one Thrasher, 3 or 4 Spotted Towhees, about the same number of Brown Towhees, one Song Sparrow. A little farther off^ were one or more Plain Titmice and Green-backed Goldfinches . There may have been other birds that I did not see. When the jays left, the noise narrowed down to the wren and the wren-tits principally. Strangely enough the spotted towhees made no sound, nor did the thrash- er. I finally saw the same little snake lying against the trunk of the tree in a defensive attitude. Most of the birds dispersed after a few minutes, but Greenie, who had now appeared, and Brownie went closer to have a good look. Greenie raised his wings and scrutinized the snake at about 6 inches distance, but neither he nor Brownie offered to attack it. They exchanged some soft comments and then Greenie inspects him. Wren scolds him.close up. Young Spot-of feet of the snake; the towhee staring silently and the wren scold- ted Towhee has good look