from the nest preening innocently. Brownie came down and stood at my feet expectantly. Rhody saw him and also came down. B moved off. Rhody, as if in disgust, bolted with extravagant gestures for the nearest drinking place. His thirst quenched, he next walked and tapped upon a window-sash placed over some seeds. (His reflection?). Next in order was a prolonged spread-eagle sun-fit, it being too warm a morning for the hollow-bowl type. I left him there, apparently a perfectly dead animal, about 10:30. His late absence has not been accompanied by any revival of behavior previously associated with mating instincts. It will be noted that his interest in mice has become increasingly less "idealistic"--more strictly utilitarian. It may be that, when away, he really was in search of a mate, but, on the other-hand, it may have been an indication of actual fading out of the mating urge for the season, in that, temporarily at least, he abandoned all of those associations at this place (magpies, mirror, former abode of his off-spring--potential mates) which, undoubtedly, in addition to food and water resources, tended to attach him to this specific environment. His going away, therefore, may be a man- ifestation of the tendency of road-runners to foam after family affairs of the season are either completed or abandoned. If such be the true explanation, it is to be expected that more frequent absences will occur from now on. (Unfortunately the same thing will occur if he has decided to look further afield for a mate, and only actual trailing of him--as last year--can determine which hypothetical motive is the true one). Experience with Nova's young bird. 12:15 P.M. I have just had an interesting experience with the young thrasher that Nova is attending. About 12 I noticed a thrasher in the bushes across the oval lawn, about 30 feet from where I was sitting. This bird I thought was Nova's. Soon, on her appearance near him, it proved that he was. Nova left and I determined to see what could be done about gaining the confidence of this bird. (I.e. the young one). Now I have never, in any way, attempted even to attract the attention of this youngster and Nova, as is her custom, scrupulously avoids me and there is no possibility of any of her specific charges learning from her that I am a source of food, to be trusted. Such teaching as this bird has had from its parent, if any, has been, as regards me, one of avoidance. First: I sat quietly watching. The bird moved nearer me by perhaps five feet, still in the bushes. It gave its baby call: yip. A lawn sprinkler was playing on the lawn between us. The space occupied by the lawn is one which thrashers (see past notes) are usually fearful of crossing, as hawks raid it. The yip was repeated but, surprisingly, ran off into a veritable thrasher full-song of excellent mature quality, but only about two seconds long. (A male? The one that left the nest May 22? He has a "mane" too, like his two elder brothers (?) of the first nest of the year, and also like the one Brownie is now attending; this last noticed, but not recorded). I began tossing worms toward him. Try throwing a worm only one inch long, a distance of 25 feet, at a wild bird, and make no movement that will frighten him, when he is watching you! Well, he did not budge. Then he came down and got one worm and began edging around the circumference of the lawn near the bushes, pass- ing through the outer edge of the sprinkler spray. This phenome- non surprised and interested him. He made a few symbolic bathing movements when struck by a drop or two. I "lead" him with another worm as a sportsman leads a flying bird with a gun. I continued