Mysterious Animal Interpretations

I have to go, says Ranger Rose. I've got pest and weed management duty.

Well, it was lovely to meet you, and thanks for Doctor Wallenius's phone number, says Unni.

That's okay. Let me know what he says, answers Rose.

Sure, says Unni, and if we see any Bristlebirds, we'll let you know.

Do you know what they look like, asks Rose?

No, says Unni. What do they look like?

Long tailed, about seventeen centimetres in size, and living on the ground. Grey with shades of brown, pale dappling on the underparts, says Rose.

Why do they wear underparnts? asks Mo.

They don't wear them, says Rose. It's their pattern.

Mo runs over to Sweezus.

Guess what? says Mo.

We know what she's going to say, so let's keep on listening to Ranger Rose, who knows about Bristlebirds.

They're called Bristlebirds, says Rose, because of the stiff hairlike feathers around the base of the beak. But we don't know exactly what the bristles are for.

How interesting, says Unni ( as she pictures hipster-style beak bristles). And they're endangered?

Critically, says Ranger Rose.

What's this about underpants? says Sweezus, coming over.

Under-pa-a-rnts, says Mo. With apple patterns.

You missed the best part, say Unni. They've got little moustaches.

Rose sighs. It's hard to get through to some people.

......

Katherine is almost asleep. It's so pleasant under this tree.

the birds singing and the grass crackling....

grass crackling ....no..... that is Ray's feet.

Couldn't find it, Ray's saying. Didn't want to go through your luggage. So I brought this instead.

He hands her his bible.

Good try.

You didn't really think I'd want to read this, Ray, says Katherine.

Some good things in there, says Ray. Open it....any page.

No, says Katherine. My book is about a lady trick rider. I don't want to confuse myself.

You like horses? says Ray. There's horses in there. Look at the concordance.

So Katherine is seduced into opening the bible, at the concordance.

Twee-oo-twee. A dull grey long-tailed bird with beak bristles trills melodically.

Plop. A bird poo drops down.

Katherine is now reading a thing in the bible about horses, which she has just turned to.

It goes: (The horse) cannot stand still at the sound of a trumpet
             When the trumpet sounds, it says 'Aha!'

The bird poo lands just ahead of the exclamation.

Now that is just charming, says Katherine. My apologies, Ray.