Pied Fantail.
“Don’t mention it, tails always grow quickly, you know,” replied the lizard with a laugh, as she skipped gaily on.
“Please, Mr. Kiwi, would you oblige me by dancing on two legs instead of three,” asked little Cis, for the Kiwi was her partner, and was using his bill as a support, and often pricked her toes.
“You don’t know what you are talking about,” said he in a huff, “it’s my bill! but perhaps you don’t know what a bill is!”
Brown Owl or More-pork.
“I’ve only heard mother say that no one likes long bills,” said little Cis.
At this the Kiwi snorted contemptuously, and left her, and the brown owl,[6] seeing something was wrong, thought it must be the music, and shouted out, “Too fast! stop them!” but no one took any heed, for he was only an old croaker, and could not be expected to keep pace with the young people. So he dropped his raupo-stem, and sulked on the bough. Soon afterwards the band stopped, and some strange flute-like notes were heard in the distance.