iends, Snipper the
Crossbill and Piny the Grosbeak."

Peter promptly bobbed his head. "I've just come from making their
acquaintance," said he. "By the way you speak, I presume you also are
from the Far North. I am just beginning to learn that there are more
folks who make their homes in the Far North than I had dreamed of. If
you please, I don't believe I know you at all."

"I'm Redpoll," was the prompt response. "I am called that because of my
red cap. Yes, indeed, I make my home in the Far North. There is no place
like it. You really ought to run up there and get acquainted with the
folks who make their homes there and love it."

Redpoll laughed at his own joke, but Peter didn't see the joke at all.
"Is it so very far?" he asked innocently; then added, "I'd dearly love
to go."

Redpoll laughed harder than ever. "Yes," said he, "it is. I am afraid
you would be a very old and very gray Rabbit by the time you got there.
I guess the next thing is for you to make the acquaintance of some of us
who get down here once in awhile."

Redpoll called softly and almost at once was joined by another
red-capped bird but without the pink breast, and with sides more heavily
streaked. "This is Mrs. Redpoll," announced her lively little mate. Then
he turned to her and added, "I've just been telling Peter Rabbit that
as long as he cannot visit our beautiful Far North he must become
acquainted with those of us who come down here in the winter. I'm sure
he'll find us very friendly folks."

"I'm sure I shall," said Peter. "If you please, do you live altogether
on these weed seeds?"

Redpoll laughed his usual happy laugh. "Hardly, Peter," replied he. "We
like the seeds of the birches and the alders, and we eat the seeds of
the evergreen trees when we get them. Sometimes we find them in cones
Snipper the Crossbill has opened but hasn't picked all the seeds out of.
Sometimes he drops some for us. Oh, we always manage to get plenty to
eat. There are some of our relatives over there and we must join them.
We'll see you again, Peter."

Peter said he hoped they would and then watched them fly over to join
their friends. Suddenly, as if a signal had been given, all spread their
wings at the same instant and flew up in a birch-tree not far away. All
seemed to take wing at precisely the same instant. Up in the birch-tree
they sat for a minute or so and then, just as if another signal had been
given, all began to pick out the tiny seeds fro