The first time I pulled the feathers off of a sparrow, while in the cage, preparing to offer it to the road-runner, the magpies, who had been indifferent to my having the bird in my hand, immediately began to scold loudly and gathered about me. This has happened on each such occasion, and each time the birds raise no objection to my having the bird in my hand. Next I noticed that whenever I picked up a feather from the floor of the cage or out of the bathing place, the same thing happened. 5:45. I went by the cage again and picked a small piece of road-runner-down off of the wire. Again the magpies moved over toward me scolding loudly. No matter what else I do, they do not scold. The scolding consists of a rapidly uttered series of penetrating kacks, uttered with bills held open to the widest, and lasts a considerable time, even after I have disposed of the feather. 6:00 P.M. Mr. Sampson just brought four live sparrows for Rhody. I demonstrated for his benefit, the magpie complex above noted, by picking up one feather while they were perfectly quiet. Immediately they set up a loud clamor. Prediction re B's roost. 7:10 There is a cool breeze from the north west--the first for several days and B has not been behind the screen in the dormitory tree;. If there is anything in the wind theory, he should be there tonight. Verified. 7:05. I win! He is. August 20th. About 9:15 a dead sparrow was taken into the cage. The magpies moved over to watch while I held it in my hand. They were perfectly silent. Rhody did not want it, perhaps because he had just had a mouse. I pulled off a feather that was sticking to the sparrow's bill. Silence. Pulled out one tail feather. Still silence. Another was pulled out, then the magpies began scolding violently. A few minutes before this, in the presence of Dr. Reynolds, I picked up one feather outside the cage with the same result. A live sparrow was let loose in the cage. The magpies began chasing it at once, but could not catch it. Rhody watched interestingly, but did not join the chase, although he shifted about from place to place. However, three times, as the sparrow flew by him, he reached out with lightning-like rapidity and plucked it out of the air with consummate precision. Each time he released it deliberately, seeming to have no interest in it, other than to pick it out of the air when it got near enough. He gave no warning of his intentions at any time. The sparrow was then removed, unharmed, apparently.