Mourning Dove. They found her just
coming from a wheat-field, where she had
been to get grain. " Oh, you poor crea-
ture ! " they cried. " We have heard all
about it. Your poor babies ! How sorry
we are for you ! "

Mrs. Mourning Dove looked from one
to another as though she did not know
what to make of it. " What do you mean ? "
she cooed. " My babies are well and do-
ing finely. Won't you come to see
them ? "

Then it was the turn of the other birds
to be surprised. "Why," they chirped,
"we heard that your eggs had fallen
through your nest and had broken and
killed the tiny Dove babies inside. Is it
true?"

" Not a word of it," answered Mrs.
88 Among the Forest People,

Mourning Dove. "The nest is all right,
and the eggs were not broken until my
two little darlings broke them with their
sharp beaks."

" Here they are," she added, fondly.
