Longbill and Teeter 



back. I learned when I was very young that 

 when startled it is best to fly first and find out 

 afterwards whether or not there is real danger. 

 I am glad it is no one but you, Peter, for I was 

 having a splendid meal here, and I should have 

 hated to leave it. You'll excuse me while I go 

 on eating, I hope. We can talk between bites." 



"Certainly I'll excuse you," replied Peter, 

 staring around very hard to see what it could be 

 Longbill was making such a good meal of. But 

 Peter couldn't see a thing that looked good to eat. 

 There wasn't even a bug or a worm crawling on 

 the ground. Longbill took two or three steps in 

 rather a stately fashion. Peter had to hide a 

 smile, for Longbill had such an air of importance, 

 yet at the same time was such an odd looking 

 fellow. He was quite a little bigger than Welcome 

 Robin, his tail was short, his legs were short, and 

 his neck was short. But his bill was long enough 

 to make up. His back was a mixture of gray, 

 brown, black and buff, while his breast and under 

 parts were a beautiful reddish-buff. It was his 

 head that made him look queer. His eyes were 

 very big and they were set so far back that Peter 

 wondered if it wasn't easier for him to look be- 

 hind him than in front of him. 



Suddenly Longbill plunged his bill into the 

 ground. He plunged it in for the whole length. 

 [63] 



