The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



"Who is that new member of the Blackbird 

 family who has come to live in the Old Orchard ?" 

 Peter asked as soon as he found Jenny Wren. 



"There isn't any new member of the Blackbird 

 family living in the Old Orchard," retorted Jenny 

 Wren tartly. 



"There is too," contradicted Peter. "I saw him 

 with my own eyes. I can see him now. He's 

 sitting in that tree over yonder this very minute. 

 He's all black, so of course he must be a member of 

 the Blackbird family." 



"Tut, tut, tut, tut, tut!" scolded Jenny Wren. 

 "Tut, tut, tut, tut, tut ! That fellow isn't a mem- 

 ber of the Blackbird family at all, and what's 

 more, he isn't black. Go over there and take a 

 good look at him ; then come back and tell me if 

 you still think he is black." 



Jenny turned her back on Peter and went to 

 hunting worms. There being nothing else to do, 

 Peter hopped over where he could get a good look 

 at the stranger. The sun was shining full on him, 

 and he wasn't black at all. Jenny Wren was right. 

 For the most part he was very dark green. At 

 least, that is what Peter thought at first glance. 

 Then, as the stranger moved, he seemed to be a 

 rich purple in places. In short he changed color 

 as he turned. His feathers were like those of 

 Creaker the Grackle iridescent. All over he 

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