The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



When he reached the end of the log he suddenly 

 dropped his tail, stretched himself to his full 

 height and his wings began to beat, first slowly 

 then faster and faster, until they were just a blur. 

 They seemed to touch above his back but when 

 they came down they didn't quite strike his sides. 

 It was those fast moving wings that made the 

 thunder. It was so loud that Peter almost wanted 

 to stop his ears. When it ended Strutter settled 

 down to rest and once more appeared like a ball 

 of fluffy feathers. His ruff was laid flat. 



Peter watched him thunder several times and 

 then ventured to show himself. "Strutter, you 

 are wonderful ! simply wonderful ! " cried Peter, 

 and he meant just what he said. 



Strutter threw out his chest proudly. "That 

 is just what Mrs. Grouse says," he replied. "I 

 don't know of any better thunderer if I do say 

 it myself." 



"Speaking of Mrs. Grouse, where is she?" 

 asked Peter eagerly. 



"Attending to her household affairs, as a 

 good housewife should," retorted Strutter 

 promptly. 



"Do you mean she has a nest and eggs?" 

 asked Peter. 



Strutter nodded. "She has twelve eggs," he 

 added proudly. 



[138] 



