Rhody crouches At 2:45 Rhody was still resting in his bush on the orchard as sharp- shin comes. at his level about 100 feet away. At 3:15 he was ready for another mouse. He slept in his old house, but was not timed in going there. (Visitors). Neo and N2 were still in the same place at sunset and Neo was always willing to come through the fence on seeing me approach. N2 looks like a bird larger in every way, but I can not be certain until I have a ggood look at them both at the same time and at the same distance--that illusion stands in the way! Jan. 9th. (Sunrise 7:26, sunset 5:07). First thrasher notes were heard at 7 A.M.; first full song at 7:10. By 8:20 thrasher sounds had shifted down to the lower p portion of the north slope and three of them (possibly 4) were mov- ing about in a leafless catalpa tree there. (Calm, clear, 47° in court 56° in clearing). At 10 Rhody had stepped out of his house a foot or two to get the sun. Returning from an absence at 11, I found the two thrashers waiting for me at their place on the south bank, Neo taking worms from hand and N2 at distance of 8 feet plus. Constant contact con- versation between them and Neo trying to get all the worms. At 11:40 Rhody had moved to the roof of his house to get the sun there. He was not interested in my doings. At noon I approached the thraser place quietly and sat down. Nothing could be heard, but in less than one minute Neo was hanging around me expectantly and N4 followed part way. Neo took worms from hand freely, in the open. Hawk amd Rhody again. At 1:20 Rhody was found on the south bank of the Clearing and accepted an invitation to come for a mouse; but when we were a- bout half way to the tool house I noticed that he was no longer fol- lowing, so I went back and a sharp-shinned hawk flew out of a shrub alongside me and perched 30 feet away on a buckeye limb overhanging the route that R and I had just traversed. Of course I had no gun. I had noticed that Rhody was very careful while following me, scru- tinizing his surroundings thoroughly and moving only a few steps at a time and had "assured" him that I would protect him against all hawks and that everything was all right. I could not have made good on this promise! I found him in a few moments and, this time, there was hitch. He retired to the orchard bank to lie on a little bench I have scooped out for him on the steep slope at a place that he likes. More nest-build- ing reflex shown by Neo. I now went to see the thrashers, getting instant response. After taking the first worm from my fingers Neo picked up a twig longer than himself and many branched and carried it to the same place where he put the first one reported. He returned for another worm and repeated with a second twig. Once again the worm--twig action occurred, then he went down on the bank. (Clear, variable wind from east to west through north, 60° in court). Several more times I visited the thrashers during the after- oon, each time both birds responded to the same extent as before. Neo finds it convenient to stay 3 or 4 feet from me, preen, dig and sun where he can detect any movement on my part indicating intention to hand him another worm. A mere gesture of the hand is now enough