west lot to get conclusive evidence of his having gone to No.1 after all. I found him sunning his back in the "Clearing" (see map) about 90 yards from No.2, preparatory to going over the fence to No.1 I squatted down 15 feet from him and talked to him. He came back toward me. I then proceeded up the abandoned "lower road"of these notes, followed somewhat hesitatingly by him. He was inclined to keep in the cover. I thought perhaps he wanted a mouse after all, so got him one, but he would not come back all the way and peered at me from the bushes on the bank near No.2. At 5:24 he was back in house No.2, an entirely unprecedented performance. Now what part did I have in inducing these two returns to No. 2? (Perhaps I am his Dux and he my Comes!). His cerebral "vortex" seems to have been a whirl of me, mice, No.2 --somewhat in disfavor, No.1--really favored for tonight and some source of anticipated danger--perhaps based on recollection of horned owls' presence last night. It also looked as if he derived some courage from my presence. It now remains to be seen whether he will stick in No.2 after all. (Clear, calm, 64°). 6:12. Well, that was not all of it! I found him still in No.2 at 5:50. When I spoke to him he stood up and sailed down, landing almost at my feet. He wanted no mice, but started toward the west. When he came opposite to the side gate he took his old route to No.1, which he had abandoned some months ago in favor of the "inside passage". At 6:04 he jumped across the gap from the ladder tree and took 2 minutes more to make the last 2 feet to his house. He was in no hurry as he had been on his two entries of No.2. These are the bare facts. What they indicate I do not know. September 21st. and 22nd On the night of the first of these days Rhody slept in No.21 again; but on the 22nd., he slept in No.2, going there at 4:20 P.M. and not coming out again. On these days the thrasher gatherings partook more definitely of pairs occasionally meeting on the borderlines between ter- ritories. The affair between Neo and his rival to the north, con- sisted mostly of exchange of song across the low roof; Neo occup- ying his pine and being joined by his mate when he began to sing and Dux 1 similarly attracting his mate. About 9:30 A.M. on the 22nd all four of these birds seemed to be in and about an oak which is almost against the west window of the living room. Neo again went down into the border territory between this place and Brokenwing's domain, where they exchanged songs. Neo and N2 were seen foraging quietly at home more often than has been the case lately, and have accepted worms, Neo clearly being the leader. September 23rd. (Sunrise 5:58; sunset 6:07). First thrasher song was heard about 6 A.M. Throughout the forenoon there were occasional exchanges of songs between Neo and other thrashers and at least one case of Neo and mate going down into the south No-man's land to exchange songs with Brokenwing. At noon both of "my birds" were at the oval lawn and came to me for worms, Neo getting all he could whether N2 wanted them or not. Rhody, who had had a mouse about 8 A.M., stepped out from unde the hedge in front of me and rattlehooded twice for my benefit. He then trotted along behind to get his mouse. I went into the shop to wash my hands, forgetting all about him, but he came to the door