"What is the matter?" asked the rabbit.
"I will tell you," said the robin. "You know there is a bird called the
cowbird or cuckoo, and that bird is too lazy to build a nest for itself.
So what do you think it does?"
"What?" asked the pussy.
"Why it goes around, laying its eggs in the nests of other birds," said
the robin. "Then we birds have to hatch out the cowbird's eggs, and when
her children come out they are so unpleasant that they shove our little
birdies right out of the nest, and eat all the things we mamma birds
bring home to our little ones."
"Ha! That is very unpleasant, to say the least," spoke the rabbit. "And
are there any cowbirds in your nest now, Mrs. Robin?"
"Not yet, but there are three of the cowbird's eggs here, and they will
soon hatch out."
"Why don't you toss out the cowbird's eggs?" asked the pussy. "Then you
won't have to hatch them."
"I would," said the robin, "only I am not strong enough, for I have been
ill, and my husband is out of work and he is looking for some. So I don't
know what to do about it. Oh, dear!" and she cried again.
"Ha! We must see what we can do," said Uncle Wiggily, who always liked to
help people who were in trouble. "I think I have a plan."
"What is it?" asked the robin.
"Well, I can't climb up that bush, for my paws are not built for that sort
of thing, but the pussy can climb very nicely, as she has sharp claws.
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