132 THE STRANGE EGG IN THE NEST. 



tree, and seems scarcely large enough to contain 

 its owner. But the Cow-Bunting approaches, 

 drops her egg into the frail habitation, and de- 

 parts. 



The tiny Fly-catchers, returning from their 

 hunt after insects a hunt carried on from the 

 tops of the tallest trees find the egg in the nest. 

 They are for a little time rather excited ; but 

 they allow the egg to remain. Nay, the little 

 Fly-catcher hatches and brings up the young 

 Cow- Bunting. 



In the meantime, her own eggs have disap- 

 peared. This is always the case when the strange 

 egg has been dropped into the nest. The eggs 

 of the foster-parents vanish before it, and no one 

 has yet found out what becomes of them. 



