969. Brownie took a small alligator lizard to his nest, but, as I watched there, decided that it was too large, so dropped down to the ground and ate it himself after a struggle. On his return to the nest he was offered a worm. Instead of giving it to the brood, he ate that also. B still has the missing or defective feather unreplaced in his left wing. May 22nd. Kack lays egg. About 9 A.M. Kack (the female magpie) was seen to leave the nest. Inspection revealed an egg, which for some reason had not been carried off. Oof was temporarily confined in the adjoining compartment. R.R. on nest. About 9:15 I went up to the road-runner Sta. 5, seeing no birds off duty; but one was on the nest and left undisturbed as it showed no disposition to respond to offers of food. from 10 feet away Only 2 eggs now. I returned two hours later and approached the nest carefully. One bird was on it, but left when I was within about 3 feet. This is thought to have been Circe. There were but two eggs in the nest. (Did she carry one off with her for safety?) Sta.4. Went to Sta. 4 to see if there were a possibility of Rhody's maintaining two establishments. The nest, examined inside for the first time, was found to have reached the lining stage and fragments of the wadding from and old quilt were found inside. As it also contained many dead oak leaves, it is clearly abandoned. May 23rd. Rhody not seen here today. Local birds much alarmed. About 2:30 P.M. there was a great scolding in the upper garden just outside this window. It seemed as if all the local birds had collected. Brownie's and Nova's cries sounded above them all. With the assistance of the birds a big cat was located and shot. B was about 10 feet from the cat at the time but did not fly away