356 CITIZEN BIRD 



family as the Snipe, and is therefore classed among the Birds that 

 A^'ade. He has a plump body, with short legs, neck, tail, and wings, 

 a big head with the eyes set in its back iippei- corners, a very long 

 bill which is soft, sensitive, and can be bent a little ; and the three 

 outside feathers in each wing are very much narrower than the rest. 



The dinner bell rang as the children wrote the last 

 words. 



" You see," said the Doctor, " that though it is still 

 raming and blowing, the morning has gone in a twin- 

 kling, and I now suspect the birthday cake is waiting to 

 be cut." 



" Yes," said Dodo, " I've been smelling the flowers 

 and candles that go with a birthday cake for ever so 

 long ! And after dinner we can accept Olive's invita- 

 tion and make candy — can't we. Uncle Roy?" 



" I suppose so; and as nothing is too good for a rainy 

 birthday, I will add something more to the feast. I 

 will tell you a birthday secret — or, rather, what has 

 been a secret until now. 



''Next month we are all going to the sea-shore to 

 spend a few weeks in Olaf's little cabin, to bathe in the 

 salt water, and sail in his sharpie. Then you can ask 

 all the questions you please about the marsh and water 

 birds. You will learn how the tides ebb and flow, and 

 see the moon come up out of the water. 



" There ! Don't all talk at once ! Yes, Rap is com- 

 ing with us — and his mother also, to help take care of 

 you children, for Mammy Bun must stay here. She 

 does not like to camp out — says she is afraid of get- 

 ting break-bone fever. 



" Come, dinner first, and then talking, or the candles 

 will burn out all alone! " 



