A Fishing Party 



the Big Hickory -tree on the bank, Rattles flew 

 out over the Smiling Pool, hovered for an instant, 

 then plunged down head-first. There was a splash, 

 and a second later Rattles was in the air again, 

 shaking the water from him in a silver spray. In 

 his long, stout, black bill was a little fish. He 

 flew back to a branch of the Big Hickory-tree that 

 hung out over the water and thumped the fish 

 against the branch until it was dead. Then he 

 turned it about so he could swallow it head-first. 

 It was a big fish for the size of the fisherman and 

 he had a dreadful time getting it down. But at 

 last it was down, and Rattles set himself to watch 

 for another. The sun shone full on him, and 

 Peter gave a little gasp of surprise. 



"I never knew before how handsome Rattles 

 is," thought Peter. He was about the size of 

 Yellow Wing the Flicker, but his head made him 

 look bigger than he really was. You see, the 

 feathers on top of his head stood up in a crest, 

 as if they had been brushed the wrong way. 

 His head, back, wings and tail were a bluish-gray. 

 His throat was white and he wore a white collar. 

 In front of each eye was a little white spot. Across 

 his breast was a belt of bluish-gray, and under- 

 neath he was white. There were tiny spots of 

 white on his wings, and his tail was spotted with 

 white. His bill was black and, like that of Long- 

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