The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



"But what's it all about?" demanded Peter 

 impatiently. "Do keep still long enough to tell 

 me. Who is this contemptible creature?" 



"Sally Sly," snapped Jenny Wren. "Sally Sly 

 the Cowbird. I hoped she wouldn't disgrace the 

 Old Orchard this year, but she has. When Mr. 

 and Mrs. Chebec returned from getting their 

 breakfast this morning they found one of Sally 

 Sly's eggs in their nest. They are terribly upset, 

 and I don't blame them. If I were in their place 

 I simply would throw that egg out. That's what 

 I'd do, I'd throw that egg out !" 



Peter was puzzled. He blinked his eyes and 

 stroked his whiskers as he tried to understand 

 what it all meant. "Who is Sally Sly, and what 

 did she do that for?" he finally ventured. 



"For goodness' sake, Peter Rabbit, do you 

 mean to tell me you don't know who Sally Sly 

 is?" Then without waiting for Peter to reply, 

 Jenny rattled on. "She's a member of the Black- 

 bird family and she's the laziest, most good-for- 

 nothing, sneakiest, most unfeeling and most self- 

 ish wretch I know of!" Jenny paused long 

 enough to get her breath. "She laid that egg in 

 Chebec's nest because she is too lazy to build a 

 nest of her own and too selfish to take care of her 

 own children. Do you know what will happen, 

 Peter Rabbit ? Do you know what will happen ? " 

 [84] 



