184 THE VAGABIES OF A WARBLER. 



"Yes; but see what 's going on," she added, 

 excitedly. 



"I see," I replied; "there is a young bird on 

 the edge of the nest and its mother is feeding 

 it; " and I was about to lower my glass and ask 

 what there was surprising about that, when she 

 went on : — 



" Keep looking ! There ! Who 's that ? " 



"Why that 's — why — that 's a chestnut- 

 sided warbler ! and — what ? — he feeds the 

 same baby! " I gasped, interested now as much 

 as she. 



" There ! " she exclaimed, triumphantly, "I 

 wanted you to see that with your own eyes, since 

 you scorn to look at the warblers. He has been 

 doing that ever since I left you. I could n't 

 bear to let him out of my sight !" 



At that moment the warbler appeared again, 

 and the wise redstart baby, who at least knew 

 enough to take a good thing when it offered, 

 opened his ever-ready mouth for the bit of a 

 worm he brought. 



But lo ! Madam, who had flown the moment 

 before, returned in hot haste, and flung herself 

 upon that small philanthropist as if he had 

 brought poison ; he vanished. 



Here was indeed a queer complication! It 

 was a redstart nest without doubt, but who 

 owned the baby? If he were a redstart, why 



