"that nest is exactly right," said mrs. cowbird. "i will lay my egg there at once, and when mrs. goldfinch has laid hers she will have to hatch them all together and take care of my baby for me. what an easy way this is to bring up one's family! it is really no work at all! and i am sure that my children will get along well, because i am always careful to choose the nests of small birds for them. then they are larger and stronger than the other babies, and can get more than their share of food."