1781 About 1:20 P.M. I called Rhody at the west fence. Shortly he ran toward me with a rattledboo and extravagant gestures, but came from the direction of the house. He followed rapidly to the tool house, where a large mouse was placed before him. He advanced at once to pick it up, but stopped short and stared at it. He repeated this action several times and at last kill ed it, but laid it down and "thought" about it. Evidently he considered the mouse too big for his needs and turned away. As soon, however, as I reentered the tool house he followed hopeful- ly and accepted, killed and swallowed without hesitation the smaller mouse , thus again demonstrating for the nth. time his accurate meas- ure of his food requirement at any given time. Rhody already in 2:30 P.M. Thinking that Rhody might go to bed early be- bed at 2:10 cause of the threatening aspect of the skies, I went down to his house No.1, finding him already stowed away in it at 2:10 P.M. At precisely 2:15 P.M. a few scattering raindrops began to fall. (Rhody a weather prophet?) Neo joins us. Thrasher talk was now heard in the bushes behind me and Neo stepped out to be rewarded with worms. This habit of his, of unex- pectedly showing up in the vicinity of Rhody's house when I go down there,is increasing Brokenbill. Still on the job at Sampson's. Mr. Sampson told me this morning that Mrs. Sampson sees this bird regularly, that it shows some community of interest with Broken- wings, who is still there, and that it seems to have no particular difficulty in getting food. S was unable to state whether the bird's bill has grown out again, as he himself has not seen it recently. January 3rd to 5th, incl. During this period the storm gradually developed bringing rain the night of the third with strong sou'easters on the fourth and fifth with frequent heavy rains. The thrashers were contacted each day and some song was heard while rain was actually falling. Rhody showed an increasing tendency to come up here in the mornings and get meat at the cage and play with the magpies. He also seemed to be giving more attention to worldly affairs and did not hesitate to sit out in the rain provided that gave him an extended outlook. Although he did not sing, I got the impression that he was rapidly approaching the "state of mind" where he might break forth at any moment. He continued to sleep in No.1 and the rain did not cause him to stay in his house even so late as he has been recently. January 6th. (Sunrise 7:26; sunset 5:05). The storm passed during the night (clear at 8 P.M.) and the day broke bright and clear (46° at 9 A.M.). Thrasher song was heard about 7 A.M. Rhody was already up here at 9 o'clock, in the orchard, preening in the sun and warming his back. He ignored me when I made road-runner sounds for him. Well, 10:45, Rhody has at last broken out in his Spring song. I went down in the orchard to see him and, when he saw me, he ran to- ward me on the path, clapping his wings together over his back (first