1662 Rhodt came running from the direction of the tool house, anxious to attract my attention. Neo was singing from the old oak, lying down instead of standing up. It was pretty warm, 70°. I knew what Rhody wanted so turned to the tool house with him at my heels. I gave him the mouse that he killed and abandoned yes- terday at 5:40 P.M. He ate it at once without ceremony. Neo maintained his position in the old oak, still singing, as I went to look up the young thrashers. He was not interested in my doings, but continued his sentry duty. N2 came, however, rather timidly and was given a cargo of worms which she took to a youngster then revealed to me for the first time. One that was yipping near me was ignored by her. I made no attempt to locate the third and left Neo's song ceased about 9:15 and I went out assuming that he was no longer on guard and that he would be ready to feed the chicks; which was the case. He made 8 rapid trips between me and all three carrying huge billfuls of worms, exacting but slender tribute. He showed that one of them was practically at my elbow in the sage. On leaving, Rhody again presented himself and began to gather nesting material all about me. At this place (near the old oak, in the driveway) within a radius of 75 feet more or less are: 4 of his old nests; Nest No.1-38; the thrasher nest and, at the moment, Neo, N2 and three young; the magpie cage; the glade and the old oak and the tool-house. Rhody had his choice of several activities here and actually showed indecision, but when his mind was made up, ran at speed to nest 1-38 in the gum tree, where he deposited his burden: pine need- les. So that nest is again in favor for the time being. An hour later everything was quite in the area described and no thrashers, young or adult were to be seen or heard. Rhody, how- ever, was coming from the cage wiping his bill and wandered down to the sage-patch, where he showed curiosity as to what might be in it, by trotting sidewise along its boundaries looking into it. N2 now showed that she was on guard by screeing loudly and descending to the lower branches of one of the oaks of the glade, probably prepar- ed to defend the youngsters in the sage. Rhody crouched menacingly a couple of times, but ran on to his take-off point for 1-38, where he gathered pine needles and took them to the nest, then settled for a rest. N2 quieted down. Neo had not appeared. Clearly N2's watch; all peaceful, (75°). During the rest of the day Rhody occupied his nest 1-38 for long periods. He was in it at 5 P.M. and remained there for the night This is an early retirement for this season. April 19th. Much the same as yesterday as to the birds. Rhody again had a "domestic" day of it, sitting much in 1-38 and undertaking no new building operations as far as known. He again did not leave his nest after 5 P.M. In many respects an unpre- dictable creature. I lean to the view that this nest-sitting of his is really a carrying out of the part he would take in a normal re- productive cycle where he would have a mate, nest, eggs, chicks, all in proper sequence. His nest is only about 20 or 25 yards from the thrashers' and