202 
THE TOWHEE BUNTINGS 
Mrs. Blackbird did not answer him, and her 
silence more than implied that she saw that 
their tale-bearing had done no good, to say the 
least. 
They soon returned to their nest, and, taking 
her place on the eggs, Mrs. Blackbird com- 
menced her task of incubation, while Mr. 
Blackbird mounted on a low shrub, and began 
his simple song, hoping to banish from her 
mind the remembrance of the recent disagree- 
able events. 
CHAPTER III. 
On the morning of the next day all the birds 
of the neighborhood were astir bright and 
early, busy at the various employments that 
are peculiar to their active bodies. 
The Golden-crowned Thrushes, as soon as 
the rays of the sun had penetrated the foliage 
of the trees above and dried the dew from the 
hill-side, began excavating a slight hollow for 
