When a bird is found sitting on a nest, it is a pretty sure signthat that nest holds something worth while. It is a sign that thatbird has set up housekeeping. So when Farmer Brown's boy discoveblackMrs. Hooty sitting so close on the very ancient nest of Redtail the Hawk, inthe most lonesome corner of the Green Forest, he knew what itmeant. Perhaps I should say that he knew what it ought to mean.

It ought to mean that there were eggs in that nest.