and, although he picked it up by the back of the neck(without injuring it) he dropped it hurriedly and came to me for another. He was given a smaller one which proved satisfactory. I left to watch the thrashers and, about 10 minutes later, Rhody was seen enter ing the shop and sneaking quietly into the office to have another look at the owl at close quarters. He was pretty calm about it. After writing the above note I went out again, finding Rhody now in the glade in the spread-eagle pose (10:40). Again a rustle behind me and a thrasher was seen in the sage patch. A tossed worm brought him running toward me promptly and confidently and I gave him all the worms I had. (And I had about decided to make a note to the effect that all thrashers here were now very wild!). This thrasher--I do not know who he is unless he is Neo after a miraculous transformation in his plumage-- is a perfect creature with all those taught and subtle curves that delight the engineer as indicating disposition of structural material where it will do the most good and, at the same time, allow for accidental reversal of stresses. This thrasher was also curious about Rhody and approached him as near as he dared making low comments. (These notes of today show how useful banding would be under present conditions. I am not certain of identifications). 11 A.M. Thrashers everywhere about the garden. I can account for 5 at the moment--several of them singing. By noontime all song had ceased, but thrashers were seen frequently about the grounds during the rest of the day and the new(?) one ( or the refurbished Neo (?)) twice again accepted worms. Rhody could be accounted for at almost any time and occupied his old house for the night. August 20th. Thrasher convention continues. In the early morning hours thrasher song was renewed, to subside for a half hour and then resume for nearly the whole forenoon. Three birds seemed to be the principal performers, but others were also seen quietly "listening" or foraging. So far there has no chasing seen and no display of combativeness. Neo's song has not been recognised amongst the others. Unlike the preceding days, the convention was renewed here during the afternoon, for several hours, with other thrashers again seen not participating. The new(?) thrasher again accepted worms-- three times in fact. Thrashers eating elder berries. These notes--long ago--have--I think,recorded every instance of thrashers eating fruit. These have been rare, perhaps three in 5 or 6 years. However, during the past week, it has been observed that thrashers are frequently in the elderberry bush at the old oak eating the berries greedily and apparently stuff- ing themselves. Once I saw Brownie in this bush eating one or two berries and leaving quickly. Rhody ran true to present form: staying home all day, loaf- ing, preening and sunning. Feeling himself neglected about 4:30 P.M., he came down from his optimum tree and "found" me near the western fence trimming trees. He loitered around me until I told Julio to go to the tool-house and get him a mouse. Rhody followed him promptly and was suitably rewarded. In a few minutes he was back again and actually changed his course to come and stand near me again for a few minutes, apparently wanting nothing. He slept in his old house.