24: STOEIES OF BIRD LITE 



It did not distinctly see, or hear, or think anything. All 

 it cared for was the pleasure of being out of that horrid old 

 shell, and feeling the warm sun on its head and the soft 

 sea wind blowing the ends of its downy feathers. 



However, it soon began to notice things. Its eyes opened 

 a little wider and it could see the warm white sand every- 

 where and the waving sea oats on the dunes round about, 



and could hear the dull roar of the waves pounding over 

 on the beach. By its side lay two other little birds, its 

 sisters, and also a spotted egg sharply pointed at one end. 

 Their nest was a mere hollow in the ground, which the 

 mother had scratched out and lined with a few smooth 

 pieces of shells ; but it was quite enough for the short time 

 these little beach babies would have need for a home. 



The mother was standing near and the youngster en- 

 joyed looking at her. The feathers of her breast were very 

 t white, whiter even than the sand, and she wore a dull gray 



