THE SNOW OWL'S CHRISTMAS PARTY 139 



the white vest, who lives all winter in the honey- 

 suckles. He had forgotten about the party and 

 gone to roost, and waking up had remembered in 

 time to join his friends at supper. 



For a while all the beaks were nipping, peck- 

 ing, and snapping together. "I should think 

 that it would disagree with you to swallow furry, 

 bony mice without chewing them," said Tommy- 

 Anne to the Owl. 



" So it would if the bones and fur stayed swal- 

 lowed, but I soon make them into little balls and 

 spit them up again ! " 



" Is that a really truly ? " asked Tommy- Anne, 

 in astonishment. 



" Certainly. Ask Ko-ko-ko-ho ; or, if you look 

 on the ground near our home tree, you will find 

 these balls of fur, gristle, heads and tails, every- 

 where about. Different birds, different habits ; 

 that is all ! " 



44 This pop-corn is excellent," said the Grosbeak. 



44 / like these little apples," said the Crossbill, 

 dipping his beak into the red-cheeked lady apples, 

 with a relish. 



44 1 should like to stay here and build my nest 

 in the Christmas tree," continued the Grosbeak 

 sociably. 



44 1 wish you would," said Waddles, who had 



