A Royal Dresser and a Late Nester 



ing who it could be who was singing like that. 

 I ought to have known, but you see it's so long 

 since I've heard you sing that I couldn't just 

 remember your song. I'm so glad you came over 

 here for I'm just dying to talk to somebody." 



Linnet the Purple Finch, for this is who it was, 

 laughed right out. "I see you're still the same old 

 Peter," said he. "I suppose you're just as full of 

 curiosity as ever and just as full of questions. 

 Well, here I am, so what shall we talk about ?" 



"You," replied Peter bluntly. "Lately I've 

 found out so many surprising things about my 

 feathered friends that I want to know more. I'm 

 trying to get it straight in my head who is related 

 to who, and I've found out some things which have 

 begun to make me feel that I know very little about 

 my feathered neighbors. It's getting so that I 

 don't dare to even guess who a person's relatives 

 are. If you please, Linnet, what family do you 

 belong to ?" 



Linnet flew down a little nearer to Peter. " Look 

 me over, Peter," said he with twinkling eyes. 

 "Look me over and see if you can't tell for your- 

 self." 



Peter stared solemnly at Linnet. He saw a bird 



of Sparrow size most of whose body was a rose-red, 



brightest on the head, darkest on the back, and 



palest on the breast. Underneath he was whitish. 



[247] 



