The 'bittern, _Stellaris_,'-- are you listening, aunty ?" "Oh, yes, I'm listening.

Go on." "-- 'is of a reddish yellow color, with spots of black.

It makes a strange noise in the night; usually _Krawy! Krawy!_ but sometimes _Uplumb! Uplumb!_ The hen lays four biggish eggs.' Do you know what I am reading, aunty?
What was the last thing ?" "Yes, yes, I heard.

'The hen lays four biggish eggs,'-- two spoonfuls of flour, and the rind of a lemon," said his aunt, unconsciously speaking out what was on her mind.
Fred looked up anxiously, for she had spoken quite seriously, without a trace of fun in her tones.
"Oh, I didn't mean that," she said, laughing, as she observed her mistake.

"I was only thinking more of my receipt than of your bittern, Fred." "I'm glad you don't really think that birds lay flour and lemon-peel," said Fred, and went on:-- "'The flesh tastes of--'" But the description was interrupted.