The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



"Oh," said Peter. "Are you related to Rose- 

 breast the Grosbeak who nested last summer in the 

 Old Orchard?" 



"I certainly am," replied Piny. "He is my 

 very own cousin. I've never seen him because he 

 never ventures up where I live and I don't go 

 down where he spends the winter, but all members 

 of the Grosbeak family are cousins. " 



"Rosebreast is very lovely and I'm very fond of 

 him," said Peter. "We are very good friends." 



"Then I know we are going to be good friends," 

 replied Piny. As he said this he turned and Peter 

 noticed that his tail was distinctly forked instead 

 of being square across like that of Welcome Robin. 

 Piny whistled, and almost at once he was joined by 

 another bird who in shape was just like him, but 

 who was dressed in slaty-gray and olive-yellow, 

 instead of the bright red that he himself wore. 

 Piny introduced the newcomer as Mrs. Gros- 

 beak. 



"Lovely weather, isn't it?" said she. "I love 

 the snow. I wouldn't feel at home with no snow 

 about. Why, last spring I even built my nest 

 before the snow was gone in the Far North. We 

 certainly hated to leave up there, but food was get- 

 ting so scarce that we had to. We have just ar- 

 rived. Can you tell me if there are any cedar- 

 trees or ash-trees or sumacs near here?" 

 [328] 



