a great bird just settling down on it.
Peter's heart jumped right up in his throat. At least that is the way it
seemed, for he recognized Mrs. Hooty.

Of course Peter stopped right where he was and took the greatest care
not to move or make a sound. Presently Hooty himself appeared and
perched in a tree near at hand. Peter has seen Hooty many times before,
but always as a great, drifting shadow in the moonlight. Now he could
see him clearly. As he sat bolt upright he seemed to be of the same
height as Terror the Goshawk, but with a very much bigger body. If Peter
had but known it, his appearance of great size was largely due to the
fluffy feathers in which Hooty was clothed. Like his small cousin,
Spooky the Screech Owl, Hooty seemed to have no neck at all. He looked
as if his great head was set directly on his shoulders. From each side
of his head two great tufts of feathers stood out like ears or horns.
His bill was sharply hooked. He was dressed wholly in reddish-brown with
little buff and black markings, and on his throat was a white patch. His
legs were feathered, and so were his feet clear to the great claws.

But it was on the great, round, fierce, yellow eyes that Peter kept his
own eyes. He had always thought of Hooty as being able to see only in
the dusk of evening or on moonlight nights, but somehow he had a feeling
that even now in broad daylight Hooty could see perfectly well, and he
was quite right.

For a long time Peter sat there without moving. He dared not do anything
else. After he had recovered from his first fright he began to wonder
what Hooty and Mrs. Hooty were doing at that old nest. His curiosity was
aroused. He felt that he simply must find out. By and by Hooty flew away
very carefully, so as not to attract the attention of Mrs. Hooty. Peter
stole back the way he had come.

When he was far enough away to feel reasonably safe, he scampered as
fast as ever he could. He wanted to get away from that place, and he
wanted to find some one of whom he could ask questions.

Presently he met his cousin, Jumper the Hare, and at once in a most
excited manner told him all he had seen.

Jumper listened until Peter was through. "If you'll take my advice,"
said he, "you'll keep away from that part of the Green Forest, Cousin
Peter. From what you tell me it is quite clear to me that the Hooties
have begun nesting."

"Nesting!" exclaimed Peter. "Nesting! Why, gentle Mistress Spring will
not get here for