A Royal Dresser and a Late Nester 



as much as did Peter. Her wings and tail were 

 much like his but were more brownish than black. 

 She wore no cap at all and her back and head were 

 a grayish-brown with an olive tinge. Under- 

 neath she was lighter, with a tinge of yellow. 

 All together she was a very modestly dressed small 

 person. As Peter recalled Chicoree's winter suit, 

 it was very much like that now worn by Mrs. Gold- 

 finch, save that his wings and tail were as they now 

 appeared. 



All the time Chicoree kept up a continual happy 

 twittering, breaking out every few moments into 

 song. It was clear that he was fairly bubbling 

 over with joy. 



"I suppose," said Peter, "it sounds foolish of 

 me to ask if you are a member of the same family 

 as Linnet." 



"Very foolish, Peter. Very foolish," laughed 

 Chicoree. "Isn't my name Goldfinch, and isn't 

 his name Purple Finch? We belong to the same 

 family and a mighty fine family it is. Now I 

 must go over to the Old Pasture to see how the 

 thistles are coming on." 



Away he flew calling, "Chic-o-ree, per-chic-o-ree, 

 chic-o-ree !" Mrs. Goldfinch followed. As they 

 flew, they rose and fell in the air in very much the 

 same way that Yellow Wing the Flicker does. 



"I'd know them just by that, even if Chicoree 

 [251] 



