102 
OUR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
my wings. I have never seen one of my 
family since, and I have no doubt that they 
are all dead, as I heard several shots after- 
wards. Thus was I bereaved in a few 
moments of all I held most dear on earth.” 
Here Woodcock gave a great sigh, and lapsed 
into a moody silence. 
Poor fellow ! ” said Mrs. Chick-a-dee, we 
were cruel to call up to his mind the recollec- 
tion of his great afflictions.” 
Let us try to turn his thoughts to more 
cheerful subjects,” said her husband. By 
the way,” he exclaimed turning to Woodcock, 
you forgot to tell us how you left our friends 
of last summer. How are the Cat Birds, and 
where are they stopping ? ” 
“ Oh ! when I saw them last we were in 
Mexico, and they were jolly ; they were think- 
ing of spending the winter in Central Amer- 
ica with their good neighbors the Brown 
Thrushes.” 
What ! are the Browns in Central Amer- 
ica ? ” asked Chick. 
Yes,” answered the other ; and so are 
