1 20 A bout the Feathered Folk. 



prove abundant dainties, and in 

 winter the hedgerow berries and 

 the roots of weeds and grasses do 

 not come amiss. They are thorough 

 British birds, and Britain " spreads 

 a table " for them all round through 

 the year. 



The farmers look askance now 

 and again ; for during winter they 

 collect in mighty flocks, which do 

 great damage to the winter wheat. 

 But, on the whole, the people are 

 proud of the Doves, and smile to 

 themselves as they hear the soft 

 murmur of their call coming from 

 rock or tree. 



From earliest ages the Dove has 

 been the emblem of innocence. 

 The gentle head, the large melting 

 eye, the tender notes of its voice, all 

 mark it out as the most loving and 

 most guileless of birds. Some folks 

 say it has its own black faults, and 

 hint at dark stories of quarrel and 

 struggle ; but then there are always 



