FOSTER-MOTHERS. 



DO you know what a foster-mother is ? 

 If you have read Hans Andersen's famous story, 

 The_ Ugly Duckling, you will remember that the 

 duck mother found a strange ^^% in her nest, and 

 when it hatched, the bird that came out was larger by 

 half than her own ducklings. So ugly and awkward 

 it was that all the creatures in the farmyard pecked 

 at it. The good mother, though she was ashamed of 

 it, tried to protect it, and treated it kindly. 



Birds which hatch eggs which they did not them- 

 selves lay are called foster-mothers, and there are 

 more of them in Bird World than most people 

 suppose. 



If you are walking in the fields, you may come 

 across a strange sight, — a young bird, considerably 

 larger than a sparrow, squatting on the ground with 

 beak wide open and wings hanging down. In a 

 moment he will squall loudly, and then run a few 

 steps in the direction of a smaller bird which is busily 

 hunting for insects or grubs. When the smaller bird 

 finds something, she hurries to the lazy youngster 

 and gives it^ to him ; but he has hardly swallowed 

 it before his mouth is open for more. He gives his 



