A Stranger and a Dandy 



was speckled with tiny light spots. Underneath 

 he was dark brownish-gray. His wings and tail 

 were of the same color, with little touches of buff. 

 His rather large bill was yellow. 



Peter hurried back to Jenny Wren and it must be 

 confessed he looked sheepish. "You were right, 

 Jenny Wren ; he isn't black at all," confessed Peter. 



"Of course I was right. I usually am," retorted 

 Jenny. "He isn't black, he isn't even related to 

 the Blackbird family, and he hasn't any busi- 

 ness in the Old Orchard. In fact, if you ask me, he 

 hasn't any business in this country anyway. He's 

 a foreigner. That's what he is a foreigner." 



"But you haven't told me who he is," protested 

 Peter. 



" He is Speckles the Starling, and he isn't really 

 an American at all," replied Jenny. "He comes 

 from across the ocean the same as Bully the English 

 Sparrow. Thank goodness he hasn't such a quar- 

 relsome disposition as Bully. Just the same, the 

 rest of us would be better satisfied if he were not 

 here. He has taken possession of one of the old 

 homes of Yellow Wing the Flicker, and that means 

 one less house for birds who really belong here. If 

 his family increases at the rate Bully's family does, 

 I'm afraid some of us will soon be crowded out of 

 the Old Orchard. Did you notice that yellow bill 

 of his?" 



[271] 



