ked Farmer Brown's
cherries in the early summer. Peter didn't know it but because of their
fondness for cedar berries the Waxwings were often called Cedarbirds or
Cedar Waxwings.

CHAPTER XXXVII. Farewells and Welcomes.

All through the long summer Peter Rabbit watched his feathered friends
and learned things in regard to their ways he never had suspected. As
he saw them keeping the trees of the Old Orchard free of insect pests
working in Farmer Brown's garden, and picking up the countless seeds of
weeds everywhere, he began to understand something of the wonderful
part these feathered folks have in keeping the Great World beautiful and
worth while living in.

He had many a hearty laugh as he watched the bird babies learn to fly
and to find their own food. All summer long they were going to school
all about him, learning how to watch out for danger, to use their eyes
and ears, and all the things a bird must know who would live to grow up.

As autumn drew near Peter discovered that his friends were gathering
in flocks, roaming here and there. It was one of the first signs
that summer was nearly over, and it gave him just a little feeling of
sadness. He heard few songs now, for the singing season was over. Also
he discovered that many of the most beautifully dressed of his
feathered friends had changed their finery for sober traveling suits in
preparation for the long journey to the far South where they would spend
the winter. In fact he actually failed to recognize some of them at
first.

September came, and as the days grew shorter, some of Peter's friends
bade him good-by. They were starting on the long journey, planning to
take it in easy stages for the most part. Each day saw some slip away.
As Peter thought of the dangers of the long trip before them he wondered
if he would ever see them again. But some there were who lingered even
after Jack Frost's first visit. Welcome and Mrs. Robin, Winsome and Mrs.
Bluebird. Little Friend the Song Sparrow and his wife were among these.
By and by even they were forced to leave.

Sad indeed and lonely would these days have been for Peter had it not
been that with the departure of the friends he had spent so many happy
hours with came the arrival of certain other friends from the Far North
where they had made their summer homes. Some of these stopped for a few
days in passing. Others came to stay, and Peter was kept busy looking
for and welcoming them.

A few old frie