He began by saying that he had been much impressed by the superior ingenuity shown by the thrushes in nest-building , and this put them into good-humour at once , as it was meant to do ; for all the quarrels between birds are about the best way of building nests . Other birds , said Solomon , omitted to line their nests with mud , and as a result they did not hold water . Here he cocked his head as if he had used an unanswerable argument ; but , unfortunately , a Mrs. Finch had come to the meeting uninvited , and she squeaked out , `` We do n't build nests to hold water , but to hold eggs , '' and then the thrushes stopped cheering , and Solomon was so perplexed that he took several sips of water . `` Consider , '' he said at last , `` how warm the mud makes the nest . '' `` Consider , '' cried Mrs. Finch , `` that when water gets into the nest it remains there and your little ones are drowned . '' The thrushes begged Solomon with a look to say something crushing in reply to this , but again he was perplexed . `` Try another drink , '' suggested Mrs. Finch pertly . Kate was her name , and all Kates are saucy . Solomon did try another drink , and it inspired him . `` If , '' said he , `` a finch 's nest is placed on the Serpentine it fills and breaks to pieces , but a thrush 's nest is still as dry as the cup of a swan 's back . '' How the thrushes applauded ! Now they knew why they lined their nests with mud , and when Mrs. Finch called out , `` We do n't place our nests on the Serpentine , '' they did what they should have done at first : chased her from the meeting . After this it was most orderly . What they had been brought together to hear , said Solomon , was this : their young friend , Peter Pan , as they well knew , wanted very much to be able to cross to the Gardens , and he now proposed , with their help , to build a boat . At this the thrushes began to fidget , which made Peter tremble for his scheme . Solomon explained hastily that what he meant was not one of the cumbrous boats that humans use ; the proposed boat was to be simply a thrush 's nest large enough to hold Peter . But still , to Peter 's agony , the thrushes were sulky . `` We are very busy people , '' they grumbled , `` and this would be a big job . '' `` Quite so , '' said Solomon , `` and , of course , Peter would not allow you to work for nothing . You must remember that he is now in comfortable circumstances , and he will pay you such wages as you have never been paid before .
Peter XXXXX authorises me to say that you shall all be paid sixpence a day . ''
Finch Kate Kates Pan Solomon first good-humour nest-building sips thrushes