Rhody getting old? At 10:40 Rhody was lying in the sun on another lath screen. I went up to him and talked to him. The Sandman came and he drowsed, his lower lids creeping up to join the upper ones. It is a rare thing to see Rhody with his eyes closed. He is, of course, getting older. He has been here now four years and four months, plus! His skin-patch colors are distinctly less brilliant, especially the red. Using Archie and Terry as yard-sticks: Rhody must have been not less than two years old when he came (in April) and certainly is now at least in his seventh year. During the rest of the day he remained at home. I thought the one large mouse given him in the forenoon would "last" longer than it did. However, about 1 P.M., he went into the cage and came out with a piece of Hamburger the size of my thumb and gulped it down. About 4:30 he went in and got another and, about 5, he came down from his optimum tree and stood waiting near me until I started for the tool-house, when he quickly followed and had a second mouse. After this he decided to look up the owl. At a point where it was necessary for him to decide which of alternative routes to take he paused, seemed to consider the matter, and chose to invade the stuffed owl sanctum by approaching through the shop. The act was accompanied by impertinent gestures of head and tail. He appears much less humble in the presence of the owl now. I hope he will not judge living ones by his experience with this. Probably this edu- cation is not good for him. There has been no display with mice for a long time (I.e. since last recorded in these notes) and no presentation of one at the mirror. His attitude toward them is now strictly utilitarian. He occasionally glances at himself in the mirror indiffer- ently, but the bird he sees there, except during the breeding season, has no attractions for him. It is a year or two (?) since he last performed his mirror dance at any season. (See notes for elapsed time). August 28th. (Sunrise 5:55; sunset 6:47). At 5:25 A.M. thrashers had already begun to sing in the distance and there was little evidence of any tendency for song to concentrate in any one locality, at this time. This is perfectly normal even at this, the "Convention Season", for according to past observations, there is always scattered, sporadic song some hours before the birds begin to assemble at some particular spot. About 7:30 a tendency was noted for thrasher sounds to concentrate in the baccharis slope on the north side of the spur on which this house is situated; but there was no sustained song. Even this died out before long and all was quiet in the thrasher realm. Presumably the birds were intent upon foraging. I was keeping close watch upon the birds so that, in the event of a "Convention" developing of sufficient impressiveness to illustrate unmistakably this seasonal habit of the California Thrasher, I was to notify the Grinnells according to arrangements previously made. About 8:30 there were indications to the west that the birds were going to gather there instead of in my garden as has been their habit on such occasions; but this preliminary affair (as past ob- servations indicated it would be) also faded out (as it "should" have). This season the gatherings have been most frequently at about 9 A.M. or a little later. This time was reached and the in- dications now favored the west slope again.