The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



"The Phoebes are a funny lot," replied Chebec. 

 "They are the only members of the family that 

 can stand cold weather. What pleasure they 

 get out of it I don't understand. They are queer 

 anyway, for they never build their nests in trees 

 as the rest of us do." , 



"Are you the smallest in the family?" asked 

 Peter, for it had suddenly struck him that Chebec 

 was a very little fellow indeed. 



Chebec nodded. "I'm the smallest," said he. 

 "That's why they call me Least Flycatcher. I 

 may be least in size, but I can tell you one thing, 

 Peter Rabbit, and that is that I can catch just as 

 many bugs and flies as any of them." Suiting 

 action to the word, he darted out into the air. 

 His little bill snapped and with a quick turn he 

 was back on his former perch, jerking his tail and 

 uttering his sharp little cry of, " Chebec ! Chebec ! 

 Chebec!" until Peter began to wonder which he 

 was the most fond of, catching flies, or the sound 

 of his own voice. 



Presently they both heard Mrs. Chebec calling 

 from somewhere in the middle of the Old Orchard. 

 "Excuse me, Peter," said Chebec, "I must go at 

 once. Mrs. Chebec says she has found just the 

 place for our nest, and now we've got a busy time 

 ahead of us. We are very particular how we build 

 a nest." 



[44] 



