The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



mind which way to go, he saw coming from the 

 direction of the Big River a great, broad-winged 

 bird, flying slowly. He seemed to have no neck 

 at all, but carried straight out behind him were 

 two long legs. 



"Longlegs the Great Blue Heron! I wonder 

 if he is coming here," exclaimed Peter. "I do 

 hope so." 



Peter stayed right where he was and waited. 

 Nearer and nearer came Longlegs. When he was 

 right opposite Peter he suddenly dropped his long 

 legs, folded his great wings, and alighted right on 

 the edge of the Smiling Pool across from where 

 Peter was sitting. If he seemed to have no neck 

 at all when he was flying, now he seemed to be all 

 neck as he stretched it to its full length. The 

 fact is, his neck was so long that when he was 

 flying he carried it folded back on his shoulders. 

 Never before had Peter had such an opportunity 

 to see Longlegs. 



He stood quite four feet high. The top of his 

 head and throat were white. From the base of 

 his great bill and over his eye was a black stripe 

 which ended in two long, slender, black feathers 

 hanging from the back of his head. His bill was 

 longer than his head, stout and sharp like a spear 

 and yellow in color. His long neck was a light 

 brownish-gray. His back and wings were of a 

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