up the tree. Then
he sat there for some time as if fearful of trying that injured wing.
Meanwhile Mrs. Tanager came and fussed about him and talked to him and
coaxed him and made as much of him as if he were a baby.

Peter remained right where he was until at last he saw Redcoat spread
his black wings and fly to another tree. From tree to tree he flew,
resting a bit in each until he and Mrs. Tanager disappeared in the Green
Forest.

"I knew Farmer Brown's boy would help him, and I'm so glad he found
him," cried Peter happily and started for the dear Old Briar-patch.

CHAPTER XXIX. The Constant Singers.

Over in a maple-tree on the edge of Farmer Brown's door yard lived Mr.
and Mrs. Redeye the Vireos. Peter Rabbit knew that they had a nest there
because Jenny Wren had told him so. He would have guessed it anyway,
because Redeye spent so much time in that tree during the nesting
season. No matter what hour of the day Peter visited the Old Orchard he
heard Redeye singing over in the maple-tree. Peter used to think that if
song is an expression of happiness, Redeye must be the happiest of all
birds.

He was a little fellow about the size of one of the larger Warblers and
quite as modestly dressed as any of Peter's acquaintances. The crown
of his head was gray with a little blackish border on either side. Over
each eye was a white line. Underneath he was white. For the rest he was
dressed in light olive-green. The first time he came down near enough
for Peter to see him well Peter understood at once why he is called
Redeye. His eyes were red. Yes, sir, his eyes were red and this fact
alone was enough to distinguish him from any other members of his
family.

But it wasn't often that Redeye came down so near the ground that Peter
could see his eyes. He preferred to spend most of his time in the tree
tops, and Peter only got glimpses of him now and then. But if he didn't
see him often it was less often that he failed to hear him. "I don't
see when Redeye finds time to eat," declared Peter as he listened to the
seemingly unending song in the maple-tree.

"Redeye believes in singing while he works," said Jenny Wren. "For my
part I should think he'd wear his throat out. When other birds sing they
don't do anything else, but Redeye sings all the time he is hunting
his meals and only stops long enough to swallow a worm or a bug when he
finds it. Just as soon as it is down he begins to sing again while he
hunts for anot