96 . TAME DOVES. 



pulling out the orchids and maiden-hair fern to 

 line their nest. 



It looked very pretty to see the little grey 

 bird flying across the room with a great pink 

 flower in her beak ; but we thought a more 

 suitable substance might be offered to them, and 

 very gladly they welcomed some little twigs and 

 dried grass, with which, after much cooing and 

 confabulation, they constructed the family home. 

 In a day or two a pair of snow-white eggs 

 appeared, and then for a fortnight the little hen- 

 bird sat patiently brooding over them, scarcely 

 leaving them long enough to take her necessary 

 food. 



In due time we found two little doves were 

 hatched. Small, pink, feeble-looking creatures they 

 were ; it seemed quite wonderful to think that 

 they could ever grow up to be like their parents. 



Patience was so tame that she would let me 

 peep under her soft feathers to see how the tiny 

 birds were progressing, and even if I took one of 

 her children away to show to my friends she was 

 in no way perturbed. 



It is a great surprise to see doves feeding their 



