The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



front of Peter, seemingly from nowhere at all. 

 His throat and breast were bright yellow and his 

 back wings and tail a soft olive-green. But the 

 most remarkable thing about him was the mask of 

 black right across his cheeks, eyes and forehead. 

 At least it looked like a mask, although it really 

 wasn't one. 



"Hello, Mummer !" cried Peter. 



"Hello yourself, Peter Rabbit!" retorted 

 Mummer and then disappeared as suddenly as 

 he had appeared. Peter blinked and looked in 

 vain all about. t ; 



"Looking for some one?" asked Mummer, 

 suddenly popping into view where Peter least 

 expected him. 



"For goodness' sake, can't you sit still a 

 minute?" cried Peter. "How do you expect a 

 fellow can talk to you when he can't keep his eyes 

 on you more than two seconds at a time." 



"Who asked you to talk to me?" responded 

 Mummer, and popped out of sight. Two seconds 

 later he was back again and his bright little eyes 

 fairly shone with mischief. Then before Peter 

 could say a word Mummer burst into a pleasant 

 little song. He was so full of happiness that Peter 

 couldn't be cross with him. 



"There's one thing I like about you, Mummer," 

 declared Peter, "and that is that I never get you 

 [186] 



