Oct. 6th. 12:25 P.M. Rain during the night and part of the forenoon. Although it has been only about enough to settle the dust somewhat, it is the only real rain since July 1st. when the beginning of the season is arbitrarily supposed to begin. Despite the rain there was considerable early morning song and nest-sitting by B. He has had more success with Nova and they have been together almost constantly since about 9. talking most of the time, Nova not hesitating to come out in the open and stay there in my presence--a new phase for her. While B and N were sitting in the old oak (Rhody preening on the ground just below B) Brownie sang about 3/4 song, using phrases which he has not used for a long time. One repeatedly heard was a succession of whistles followed by a kissing sound (calling the dog). There were also many jingling phrases such as: po-leenk, tink-o-link, etc. The call of the young black-headed grosbeak and the full song of the adult grosbeak were also approximated many times. B seemed to be able to get N to come to him out of the bushes whenever he liked, and on one occasion N was the leader to the dormitory tree. Rhody preened a long time in the glade, perhaps a half hour, then decided to see what I was doing outside and came to me voluntarily. He took worms from my hand and, just as the sun came out, turned his back on me abruptly and "opened up" his back to the warmth, standing where I could reach out and touch his tail, if I had cared to do so. His wings and wing coverts conceal his entire back normally, so when he opens up his real back plumage shows. it looks like fur and is mouse colored. He seemed perfectly at ease, stripped "scurf" off of the base of new feathers around his oil gland and finally lay down contentedly turning his head now and then in the direction of some new sound, but not minding small movements of mine behind his back, since he did not turn to look at me.