CHAPTER XXV 



THREE COUSINS QUITE UNLIKE 



As Peter Rabbit passed one of the apple-trees 

 in the Old Orchard, a thin, wiry voice hailed him. 

 " It's a wonder you wouldn't at least say you're glad 

 to see me back, Peter Rabbit," said the voice. 



Peter, who had been hopping along rather fast, 

 stopped abruptly to look up. Running along a 

 limb just over his head, now on top and now under- 

 neath, was a little bird with a black and white 

 striped coat and a white waistcoat. Just as 

 Peter looked it flew down to near the base of the 

 tree and began to run straight up the trunk, 

 picking things from the bark here and there as 

 it ran. Its way of going up that tree trunk re- 

 minded Peter of one of his winter friends, Seep 

 Seep the Brown Creeper. 



"It strikes me that this is a mighty poor wel- 

 come for one who has just come all the way from 

 South America," said the little black and white 

 bird with twinkling eyes. 



"Oh, Creeper, I didn't know you were here!" 

 cried Peter. "You know I'm glad to see you. 

 I'm just as glad as glad can be. You are such a 

 [1831 



