length of time. They were joined by two song sparrows, who kept further away (about 10 feet instead of 6 or 8). Two spotted towhees perhaps 15 feet at the closest. Several golden-crowned sparrows (the first of the season noted here)--less interested, but still concerned. An occasional Anna hummingbird squeaking by. (On the lawn they had da- darted at him). These birds after such visits, retired to about 30 feet distance, where one of them perched in an oak and the other made narrow U-shaped flights over it emitting a hollow whistling sound at the lowest point. (I observe that they do this almost any time of the year). Rhody ignored all of these birds absolutely, continuing to preen and sun himself. Incidentally, during this operation he uses his tail as a brace, like the trail on a field gun. Soon a Hermit thrush came and perched about 6 feet over his head. (The first hermit thrush of the season here--overlapping the russet- backed, still here). This interested Rhody and he crouched rigidly with his bill pointed toward the visitor until the latter left in a few seconds. (Manifestly the road-runner can be useful in locating first arrivals). Rhody did not leave until the shadows fell upon him, then he stepped down and flowed silently by me, pausing to pick up a worm dropped to him, until he found another sunny spot about 10 feet away. There I left him. With all of his recent prowling about the place, there is still a lizard nearly always posted conspicuously at one certain spot on a wall by a path. I have seen Rhody within 20 feet of him more than once, yet he either has not seen him or else has failed to catch him. Sept. 27th. Brownie opened the day with song, much of which, I suspect, is intended to bring back Nova from wherever she may be. He worked almost continuously on the nest from 9 until about