A SUCCESSFUL PRETENDER 107 



to all that loving care and sprightly industry were 

 thrust aside, crowded, and crushed. The one 

 ravenous gape was always open as the parents came 

 again and again with caterpillars and other insects. 

 The weaker nesth'ngs were starved and crushed until 

 they gave up the futile struggle. Then they were 

 pushed out of the nest to drop unheeded to the ground. 

 The big impostor grew till he ladly filled the nest, 

 his portly body stolidly immovable, but his soft beak 

 ever open for food. 



When he outgrew the nest and fluttered to an 

 adjacent fence the Chippies were more puzzled than 

 proud over their strange, prodigious ward. He was 

 so much bigger than themselves, so obviously able 

 to care for himself, and yet so eager and importunate 

 to be fed. He called to them, demanded of them, and 

 followed them about whenever they made any lengthy 

 excursion in search of the ever-wanted Caterpillars. 

 His mother had left the indifferent flock only long 

 enough to lay the egg in the Chippies* nest and 

 return ; and now the young pretender has fastened 

 himself on his little guardians, living upon their 

 industry, though in every way able to support 

 himself. He will never leave them till their deluded 

 parental feelings are strained beyond endurance, and 

 they refiise longer to submit to the imposition. Then 

 he will assume the black plumage of his kind and 

 take himself away to join the band of vagabonds to 



