1832 It faced toward the bird in the deodar, perhaps a hundred yards away. It moved to one of the pine tops, still facing toward the other. I moved still closer and listened to its unceasing song for about 10 or 15 minutes. It was still singing, as was the other (whom, from his song, I thought to be Neo)-when I left for home. This bird (in the pine) was a quail-russet-backed-robin-thrasher. I think it was the earlier kingbird-robin-grosbeak thrasher. The song died out shortly after I got home, but after an indefinite period, broke out here in two places and in another a hundred or two yards to the north east. The two birds here were located as follows: One in the top of the old oak: one in the honeysuckle-covered fence near the entrance, about 50 feet from the point usually occupied by Neo when strictly "at home". These two birds, only, were watched. Their songs were the nearest alike of any two thrashers I have heard (always excepting Brownie and Greenie). I thought I could detect a tendency for each to alter his phraseology slightly to conform nearer to that of the other bird, but may be mistaken. 10 minutes of this and the bird in the old oak tree slid downward to the east just clearing the honeysuckle. The bird there stopped song and popped up out of the thick growth precisely at the point where the other crossed, waited a minute or two and then followed (and so did I). By the time I could get in position to see them, one bird was 150 yards to the N.E. resuming song; the other was following by easy stages in no hurry and was last seen entering the same group of trees from which the other was singing. I followed no further. 11:30. (Temp. 78°). This series of events, beginning with the return of the two singers here from north and north east about 9:20 A.M., although I can not be absolutely certain of the identification of the partic- ipants, most certainly looks like a case of defense of territory on the part of Neo. If that is what it was, then it is the first clear (to me) manifestation that all this convention business is a terri- torial affair. It should be recorded, however, that even in this chain there was no chasing, no threatening, no combat. It seems to have been a matter of moral suasion. Events earlier than about 9 o'clock, i.e. before the two scrapping thrashers appeared upon the scene where the others were feeding and stalking about, do not seem to have been inspired by any bird issuing a broadcast. During the last few days many other birds have gathered there to find food on the lawn and in the shrubbery, and as noted, one thrasher was there alone with the robins before any gathering took place. At this time of the year when all uncultivated areas are thoroughly desiccated, birds--especially insect eating birds (and rabbits) find their task in securing food much simplified by resort to the gardens in this area. Consequent- ly it may be that the tendency of thrashers to collect at such places is not altogether a territorial affair. Some part of the motivation is hunger, and an element of accidental meeting of strangers--with resultant excitement--requires consideration. 4:50. Since the above observations were made, almost nothing has been seen or heard of thrashers in this vicinity. Rhody came home about noon and resorted to his optimum tree. He wanted no mice during the day and ate but two small pieces of meat. Perhaps he filled up on snakes and lizards while away. At 4:34½ exactly, he entered his house No. 2 in the eucalypt- us tree. We shall see if he changes his mind again as he did on the fourth, and finally goes to No. 1. There is plenty of time before dark and he may become bored by waiting in one place for it to come. (Bright, clear, calm, 75°). Two hours of the sun staring him in the face still to come!