Birds
Hermes felt a particular kinship with birds. Besides the obvious similarities of feathers and speed, they were keen travelers, and mortals tended to congregate in places where birds were plentiful.
Some used them for hunting practice, while others followed their migration patterns to stay one step ahead of the encroaching cold when winter came on. It was a bad day, Hermes knew, when even the birds were caught by surprise at Persephone's abrupt departure. In winter it wasn't unheard of for vultures to replace sparrows, and the people stayed indoors for their own protection.
But in summer, the people came simply to hear the birds sing. Orpheus, like his mother before him, sang so beautifully it gave them serious competition. And when she left her son behind to travel with the birds, Hermes was impressed enough to take him under his wing.