The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



a bright, shining green. His wings and tail were 

 brownish with a purplish tinge. Underneath he 

 was whitish. But it was his throat on which 

 Peter fixed his eyes. It was a wonderful ruby-red 

 that glistened and shone in the sun like a jewel. 



Hummer lifted one wing and with his long needle- 

 like bill smoothed the feathers under it. Then he 

 darted out into the air, his wings moving so fast 

 that Peter couldn't see them at all. But if he 

 couldn't see them he could hear them. You see 

 they moved so fast that they made a sound very 

 like the humming of Bumble the Bee. It is because 

 of this that he is called the Hummingbird. A few 

 minutes later he was back again and now he was 

 joined by Mrs. Hummer. She was dressed very 

 much like Hummer but did not have the beautiful 

 ruby throat. She stopped only a minute or two, 

 then darted over to what looked for all the world 

 like a tiny cup of moss. It was their nest. 



Just then Jenny Wren came along, and being 

 quite worn out with the work of feeding her seven 

 babies, she was content to rest for a few moments 

 and gossip. Peter told her what he had discovered. 



" I know all about that," retorted Jenny. " You 

 don't suppose I hunt these trees over for food with- 

 out knowing where my neighbors are living, do 

 you? I'd have you to understand, Peter, that 

 that is the daintiest nest in the Old Orchard. It is 

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