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 nestlings 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 lazily 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 refuse 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 
