ht that
the whole Singing Society began to laugh at him, until he flew away with
one last frantic scream of rage.

Then the Pleasant Valley Singing Society had one of the most enjoyable
meetings it had ever held. And though Jasper Jay showed a very sulky
face to everybody for several days, it was a long time before he spoiled
any songs that he happened to hear. And he never annoyed Buddy
Brown-Thrasher again.

Morning and evening Buddy went to his favorite perch and sang to his
heart's content.

For Jasper Jay had learned a lesson at last.

XVIII

ENEMIES

JASPER JAY was not the only bird that liked beechnuts. Reddy Woodpecker
was fond of them, too. And when he saw that the beechnut crop was going
to be a big one he decided that he would stay in Pleasant Valley all
winter.

Jasper and Reddy were not unlike in some other respects, too. Both were
noisy, quarrelsome ruffians, who did not hesitate to steal and devour
the eggs and young of other birds. Furthermore, both of them were
gay-colored--but in a very different way. Jasper Jay always wore a
brilliant blue suit, while Reddy Woodpecker made himself easily seen by
donning a bright red cap, which came down to his shoulders and gave him
an odd look. Being so much alike (as far as manners were concerned), the
two quarreled whenever they met. And when Jasper Jay heard that Reddy
had made up his mind to spend the winter in the North he was furious.

"It's an outrage!" he declared to Jimmy Rabbit, who had told him about
Reddy Woodpecker's plan. "He needn't think he can stay in this
neighborhood and eat most of the nuts--for I know him and I know what he
expects to do."

Jimmy Rabbit saw at once that there was going to be some fun--for him.
And he didn't want to miss any of it.

"I suppose----" he said to Jasper--"I suppose you'd like to drive Reddy
Woodpecker away from Pleasant Valley?"

Jasper laughed hoarsely.

"I'd not only _like_ to--I'm _going_ to!" he said.

"How do you intend to do it?" Jimmy asked him.

"I'll have to think a while before I decide," Jasper Jay replied.

"You'll find it pretty difficult," Jimmy Rabbit said. "Let me arrange
the matter for you! I'll promise you to put Reddy Woodpecker where he
can't eat any beechnuts. And so long as I do that for you, I suppose you
don't care what happens."

"Certainly not!" said Jasper Jay. "Though, of course, if you could
arrange things so I didn't have to _see_ Reddy I'd like that. His red