1142. B's flow of saliva.? Confirming observations of previous years: large drops of saliva appeared at the tip of Brownie's bill and dripped into the nest. March 22nd. Brownie's chicks are now developing an appetite that causes him to make frequent demands upon the Commissariat (represented by myself) and, at the same time more extensive digging operations. He is a busy bird. Saliva continues to flow freely, sometimes dropping upon my hand when he perches on it in getting worms. R at the cage I did not see Rhody until 1 P.M. when he came to the cage and remained there or thereabouts for 3 hours, sunning himself most of the time, as there was a chilly north wind, with bright sun . Before leaving he cut a few fancy capers about the bushes, rattle- boooing as if to express his feeling of the futility of all things. There was a period of about a half hour when all three road- runners were keenly interested in something out of sight to the to the south; so much so that I picked up Archie without protest from him and put him in my lap, where he remained throughout the period, looking south. March 23rd. R strongly attracted by young RRs. There can be little doubt that Rhody is strongly attracted now by the young birds in the cage. At 7:50 A.M. he was on top of it sunning himself. I had to leave shortly thereafter, returning about 1:30, when I found him staring in the dining room win- dow. In the meantime he had been calling. R's mouse act. The rest of the afternoon, for the most part, was spent at the cage. At 4 he looked so forlorn that I gave him a live mouse. He immediately began wagging his tail sideways and bowing, then turning first to the right, then to the left and then to rear, repeating this performance at the end of each turn. He went away with the mouse, returning in 35 minutes with it. He ran directly to the netting where Archie happened to be standing, faced him and repeated his wagging and bowing, tail partly spread. This time he added vocal accompaniment, consisting of a series of rapid cocks, followed (as he bowed) by a crooning sound. At a distance of 15 feet I could just hear him by listening carefully. This is the first time that I have seen him so definitely court one of the young birds. Archie was indifferent and walked away. Rhody immediately his performance, straightened up and watched Archie retire. He stood thus quietly for several minutes looking, as I imagined, much disappointed. He wandered about aimlessly nearby for 10 or 15 minutes, sometimes remained perfectly still as if irresolute, still holding the mouse; but after his snub, did not even look toward the cage again. Finally he climbed a pine tree, swallowed his prey and stared off into space as I left. Poor Rhody. I wonder, considering that last year he started his nest on the first day he was seen with a mate, whether the presence of the young roadrunners in the cage deceived him into the belief that this year his objective had already been attained. Doubtless they had something to do with his nest building, but he still searches for a legitimate mate elsewhere. March 25th. R taking lining. Rhody was seen taking pine needles to his nest, indicating B now busy. All three RRs intent on dist- ant happening. R looking for what site? He courts A. Vocal accom- paniment. A indifferent. R's disappoint- ment evident. Does R think he has found mate in cage?