“When you have once met him face to face and heard his sad cry—­’pewee—­pewee—­pee-eer—­weer!’—­you will probably find half a dozen pairs about home.

[Illustration:  Wood Pewee.]

“It is usual to call the notes of this bird sad; but it only seems so from our point of view; for he is a happy, fussy little bird, and I dare say that when he calls he is only saying ‘peek-a-boo!’ to his mate on the other side of the tree.”

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we knew all that the animals and birds do, and could see what they see, besides being ourselves?” said Nat.

“I think we should be too wise and proud,” said Rap.  “No, my lads,” said the Doctor, “we should probably be more humble than we are now, and realize how very little House People really know about the wonderful lives of those creatures we commonly call ‘dumb animals.’”

“You haven’t given us any table for the Wood Pewee,” said Dodo, who always took great pleasure in writing in her little book.  “I like to hear it, though I can’t write it now.”

The Wood Pewee

Length six and a half inches.  Wings much longer than the tail, and feet very small.

Upper parts dark brown with an olive shade, and light bars on the wings; top of the head not darker than the back, and under side of the beak not black.

Under parts yellowish-white with a tinge of dark gray along the sides and across the breast.

Looks very much like the Phoebe, but you can tell them apart if you attend carefully to the tables.

A Citizen of North America from Florida to Canada and west to the plains.  Travels beyond the United States for the winter.

A good Citizen and shy neighbor.  A member of the guild of Sky Sweepers.

CHAPTER XXI

HUMMERS AND CHIMNEY SWEEPS

THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

[Illustration:  Ruby-Throated Hummingbird.]

“It won’t be dark for a long time yet,” said Dodo, after they had driven silently for a couple of miles, watching the clouds against the tree-tops and the Swallows that were out in full force, sky-sweeping for their evening meal.

“Are you growing sleepy?” asked Olive.

“No, only terribly hungry” whispered Dodo, as if rather ashamed of the fact; “and do you know, Olive, after dinner to-day I told Olaf I never should be hungry again, because I ate so much chowder.  After we had driven awhile I thought to myself, ’I shan’t want supper to-night anyway.’  Then pretty soon I thought, ‘I shall want supper,’ and now I want it right away!” The Doctor laughed and looked at the cows that were pasturing in the roadside fields, for they were passing a farming village.

“I don’t see any Cowbirds this afternoon,” said Nat, thinking the Doctor was looking for them.