The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



and going in and out of the little holes in the 

 bank. 



"I am like my big cousin, Twitter the Purple 

 Martin, fond of society," explained Banker. "We 

 Bank Swallows like our homes close together. 

 You said that you had just learned that Rattles 

 the Kingfisher has his home in a bank. Do you 

 know where it is ?" 



"No," replied Peter. "I was looking for it 

 when I discovered your home. Can you tell me 

 where it is ? " 



"I'll do better than that;" replied Banker. 

 "I'll show you where it is." 



He darted some distance up along the bank and 

 hovered for an instant close to the top. Peter 

 scampered over there and looked up. There, 

 just a few inches below the top, was another hole, 

 a very much larger hole than those he had just 

 left. As he was staring up at it a head with a 

 long sharp bill and a crest which looked as if all 

 the feathers on the top of his head had been 

 brushed the wrong way, was thrust out. It was 

 Rattles himself. He didn't seem at all glad to 

 see Peter. In fact, he came out and darted at 

 Peter angrily. Peter didn't wait to feel that 

 sharp dagger-like bill. He took to his heels. 

 He had seen what he started out to find and he 

 was quite content to go home. 

 [164] 



