Nova has "mane". A little later (8:15), as I approached the thrasher nest, one of the adults, assumed to be Brownie because of apparent lack of fear, was sitting on the edge and seen in profile against the bright sky. I was surprised to note that it had a "mane" like that of the youngsters of the first brood of the year, but not so pronounced. When I took of my hat to avoid branches overhead and get a closer view (4 feet), the bird made a peculiar sound and I saw that it was Nova. She left, but not in much fear. Is the "mane" of the first brood inherited from Nova? R still uses large At 9:05 I looked up Rhody and found him carrying large twigs up to 5-36. He was using them to build the outside wall higher. He soon came down for a session with the magpies. Argentine ants at thrasher nest. At 9:15 B was sitting quietly on the edge of the nest. An ant, disregarded by him, was crawling on his bill. Others were about the nest, but not many--the first seen at this particular nest. The nest has not been fouled by the brood at all and at present there seems to be no reason to suspect that these insects have any designs upon the chicks, but they will be watched and poison (safely enclosed) placed at the nest. Due to interlacing branches, it is impracticable to protect the nest with "tanglefoot!" Time for young thrashers to leave nest? The young thrashers should be about ready to leave the nest, and I shall not be surprised to have this happen at any time now. First thrasher chick leaves 10:04 I saw one of them just leave the nest. Since 7:15 this morning, when only one chick was fed by B, the parents have not been seen to take food to the nest. I have thought that withholding food, on previous occasions, has been one of the means adopted by the parents in encouraging departure, though I doubt if there be any conscious effort on their part, of any kind, to induce this action. Certainly none has been witnessed here. (See later note) No training of young thrashers. at all, in any of the activities in which birds are concerned, has ever been seen here, if my memory (without reference to past notes) serves me. This applies to leaving the nest, first and all subsequent flights, finding food and drink and getting it down. Some guidance is given in selecting roosting places at first, but it is doubtful if this can be called training. B feeds those left in nest. At 11:15 Brownie came to me for worms, taking three to the two chicks remaining in the nest. He would not take any more. The one that left is not visible, though Nova appears to know where he is. If so, she nevertheless leaves him to come and sc rip at me when I approach the nest. This one has not been heard to call as yet. 11:30. Brownie showed me the youngster by coming to me for worms with which to feed him. He is only 15 feet from home down in the bracken and penstemons. At noon he had moved about 50 feet toward the oval lawn and was under a flat-growing azalea. Brownie came for worms and looked for him, but could not find him although he was within my reach, so he took the worms to the nest. There is evidently no mysterious sense by which thrashers locate their young and unless the latter are in plain sight, or call, the supposedly keen eyesight and sense of hearing are of little aid to them. As has been shown in previous instances,