twig, where he squeaked excitedly for a
few minutes, for his voice is nothing but a little squeak.

Often Peter had seen Hummer darting about from flower to flower and
holding himself still in mid-air in front of each as he thrust his long
bill into the heart of the blossom to get the tiny insects there and
the sweet juices he is so fond of. But this was the first time Peter had
ever seen him sitting still. He was such a mite of a thing that it
was hard to realize that he was a bird. His back was a bright,
shining green. His wings and tail were brownish with a purplish tinge.
Underneath he was whitish, But it was his throat on which Peter fixed
his eyes. It was a wonderful ruby-red that glistened and shone in the
sun like a jewel.

Hummer lifted one wing and with his long needle-like bill smoothed the
feathers under it. Then he darted out into the air, his wings moving so
fast that Peter couldn't see them at all. But if he couldn't see them he
could hear them. You see they moved so fast that they made a sound very
like the humming of Bumble the Bee. It is because of this that he is
called the Hummingbird. A fey' minutes later he was back again and now
he was joined by Mrs. Hummer. She was dressed very much like Hummer but
did not have the beautiful ruby throat. She stopped only a minute or
two, then darted over to what looked for all the world like a tiny cup
of moss. It was their nest.

Just then Jenny Wren came along, and being quite worn out with the work
of feeding her seven babies, she was content to rest for a few moments
and gossip. Peter told her what he had discovered.

"I know all about that," retorted Jenny. "You don't suppose I hunt these
trees over for food without knowing where my neighbors are living, do
you? I'd have you to understand, Peter, that that is the daintiest nest
in the Old Orchard. It is made wholly of plant down and covered on the
outside with bits of that gray moss-like stuff that grows on the bark of
the trees and is called lichens. That is what makes that nest look like
nothing more than a knot on the branch. Chatterer made a big mistake
when he visited this tree. Hummer may be a tiny fellow but he isn't
afraid of anybody under the sun. That bill of his is so sharp and he is
so quick that few folks ever bother him more than once. Why, there isn't
a single member of the Hawk family that Hummer won't attack. There isn't
a cowardly feather on him."

"Does he go very far south for the wi