The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



legs, was long, and stout, and sharp. It looked 

 almost too big for his size. 



Presently Rattles flew out and plunged into 

 the Smiling Pool again, this time, very near to 

 where Longlegs was patiently waiting. He caught 

 a fish, for it is not often that Rattles misses. It 

 was smaller than the first one Peter had seen him 

 catch, and this time as soon as he got back to the 

 Big Hickory -tree, he swallowed it without thump- 

 ing it against the branch. As for Longlegs, he 

 looked thoroughly put out. For a moment or 

 two he stood glaring angrily up at Rattles. You 

 see, when Rattles had plunged so close to Longlegs 

 he had frightened all the fish. Finally Longlegs 

 seemed to make up his mind that there was room 

 for but one fisherman at a time at the Smiling 

 Pool. Spreading his great wings, folding his 

 long neck back on his shoulders, and dragging his 

 long legs out behind him, he flew heavily away 

 in the direction of the Big River. 



Rattles remained long enough to catch another 

 little fish, and then with a harsh rattle flew off 

 down the Laughing Brook. "I would know him 

 anywhere by that rattle," thought Peter. "There 

 isn't any one who can make a noise anything like 

 it. I wonder where he has gone to now. He 

 must have a nest, but I haven't the least idea 

 what kind of a nest he builds. Hello! There's 

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