these old Woodpecker houses?" asked Peter.

"Winsome Bluebird, stupid!" snapped Jenny Wren.

Peter grinned and looked foolish. "Of course," said he. "I forgot all
about Winsome."

"And Skimmer the Tree Swallow," added Jenny.

"That's so; I ought to have remembered him," exclaimed Peter. "I've
noticed that he is very fond of the same house year after year. Is there
anybody else?"

Again Jenny Wren nodded. "Yank-Yank the Nuthatch uses an old house, I'm
told, but he usually goes up North for his nesting," said she. "Tommy
Tit the Chickadee sometimes uses an old house. Then again he and Mrs.
Chickadee get fussy and make a house for themselves. Yellow Wing the
flicker, who really is a Woodpecker, often uses an old house, but quite
often makes a new one. Then there are Killy the Sparrow Hawk and Spooky
the Screech Owl."

Peter looked surprised. "I didn't suppose THEY nested in holes in
trees!" he exclaimed.

"They certainly do, more's the pity!" snapped Jenny. "It would be a good
thing for the rest of us if they didn't nest at all. But they do, and an
old house of Yellow Wing the Flicker suits either of them. Killy always
uses one that is high up, and comes back to it year after year. Spooky
isn't particular so long as the house is big enough to be comfortable.
He lives in it more or less the year around. Now I must get back to
those eggs of mine. I've talked quite enough for one morning."

"Oh, Jenny," cried Peter, as a sudden thought struck him.

Jenny paused and jerked her tail impatiently. "Well, what is it now?"
she demanded.

"Have you got two homes?" asked Peter.

"Goodness gracious, no!" exclaimed Jenny. "What do you suppose I want of
two homes? One is all I can take care of."

"Then why," demanded Peter triumphantly, "does Mr. Wren work all day
carrying sticks and straws into a hole in another tree? It seems to me
that he has carried enough in there to build two or three nests."

Jenny Wren's eyes twinkled, and she laughed softly. "Mr. Wren just has
to be busy about something, bless his heart," said she. "He hasn't a
lazy feather on him. He's building that nest to take up his time and
keep out of mischief. Besides, if he fills that hollow up nobody else
will take it, and you know we might want to move some time. Good-by,
Peter." With a final jerk of her tail Jenny Wren flew to the little
round doorway of her house and popped inside.

CHAPTER IX. Longbill and Teeter.

From the decided way in wh