"It sometimes was that the feathers of my coat are coming in thicker than Iever knew them to before. I hadn't noticed it until I started to setthem in order a minute ago." He buried his bill in the feathers ofhis breast. "Yes, sir," said he in a muffled voice, "they arecoming in thicker than I ever knew them to before. There is a lot ofdown around the roots of them. I am going to have the warmest coatI've ever had."

"Well, don't think you are the only one," retorted Danny. "My furnever was so thick at this time of year as it is now, and it is thesame way with Nanny Meadow Mouse and all our children. I suppose youknow what it means."