n to think about housekeeping yet. They certainly
do like those cherries, but I guess Farmer Brown can stand the loss of
what they eat. He may have fewer cherries, but he'll have more apples
because of them."

"Bow's that?" demanded Peter.

"Oh," replied Jenny Wren, "they were over here a while ago when those
little green cankerworms threatened to eat up the whole orchard,
and they stuffed themselves on those worms just the same as they are
stuffing themselves on cherries now. They are very fond of small fruits
but most of those they eat are the wild kind which are of no use at all
to Farmer Brown or anybody else. Now just look at that performance, will
you?"

There were five of the Waxwings and they were now seated side by side
on a branch of the cherry tree. One of them had a plump cherry which
he passed to the next one. This one passed it on to the next, and so it
went to the end of the row and halfway back before it was finally eaten.
Peter laughed right out. "Never in my life have I seen such politeness,"
said he.

"Huh!" exclaimed Jenny Wren. "I don't believe it was politeness at all.
I guess if you got at the truth of the matter you would find that each
one was stuffed so full that he thought he didn't have room for that
cherry and so passed it along."

"Well, I think that was politeness just the same," retorted Peter. "The
first one might have dropped the cherry if he couldn't eat it instead of
passing it along." Just then the Waxwings flew away.

It was the very middle of the summer before Peter Rabbit again saw Dandy
the Waxwing. Quite by chance he discovered Dandy sitting on the tiptop
of an evergreen tree, as if on guard. He was on guard, for in that tree
was his nest, though Peter didn't know it at the time. In fact, it was
so late in the summer that most of Peter's friends were through nesting
and he had quite lost interest in nests. Presently Dandy flew down to
a lower branch and there he was joined by Mrs. Waxwing. Then Peter was
treated to one of the prettiest sights he ever had seen. They rubbed
their bills together as if kissing. They smoothed each other's feathers
and altogether were a perfect picture of two little lovebirds. Peter
couldn't think of another couple who appeared quite so gentle and
loving.

Late in the fall Peter saw Mr. and Mrs. Waxwing and their family
together. They were in a cedar tree and were picking off and eating the
cedar berries as busily as the five Waxwings had pic