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THE ORIGIN OF THE FISH. 



A BIRD-FISH STORY. 



Once upon a time, and that was in "Are you the most graceful and the 



the long- ago, there lived a Koko-bird highest flyer among birds?" 



along the forest shores of the Boozoo "I am," replied the braggart for the 



river. I am not quite certain in what third time. 



country this river is but I believe it is The king of birds then flapped his 



somewhere in Gazazuland. It does not right wing arid there came forth the gor- 



matter much where it is or was, but of geous bird of paradise, with the beautiful 



one thing I am absolutely certain, and and wonderful tail feathers and crown, 



that is that the river did exist, else how at the sight of which the members of the 



could the bird have lived along its bird council individually and collectively 



shores ? Now this bird was quite beauti- flapped their wings in admiration. The 



ful, could sing quite well, and could fly eagle once more turned to the Koko-bird 



quite gracefully ; accomplishments which and in a terrible voice demanded : 



all of the other birds of the community "Are you still the handsomest among 



willingly admitted, but the Koko-bird birds? Heed well your answer." 



was very boastful. In a loud, arrogant The Koko-bird gave one sidelong 



voice he would proclaim himself the squint at the beautiful bird and said : 



handsomest, the most musical and the "I am," in a very indifferent tone of 



most graceful of all the feathered tribe, voice ; whereat the assembled birds were 



At first his neighbors tried to ignore astonished. 



these boasts, hoping that the Koko-bird The king of birds then flapped his left 

 would in time learn better manners, but wing and there came forth a nightingale 

 he did not ; on the contrary, he became which began to sing so sweetly that some 

 more boastful every day, in fact every of the listeners fell from their perches 

 minute, so that his presence became al- out of sheer ecstasy and they would have 

 most unbearable, causing great mental been hurt by the fall had they not caught 

 irritation and a feeling of nausea in those themselves in the air by means of their 

 who were obliged to listen to him. A wings. Even the king of birds was 

 bird committee was therefore appointed greatly moved, for he was seen to brush 

 to obtain an audience with the Golden a tear from his right eye before he turned 

 Eagle, who was then the ruler of all the to the Koko-bird and spoke in a thunder- 

 birds, and petition his majesty to con- ous voice: 



vene the bird council in order that suit- "You have heard this marvelous 



able punishment might be meted out to singer. Are you still the best vocalist 



the boastful Koko. The very next day among birds? Heed well your answer." 



the meeting was called by special and The Koko-bird merely yawned and 



very swift bird messengers. The Koko- said, "I am," and again the birds were 



bird was brought a prisoner before the greatly astonished. 



king of the birds, the bird council and a The king of birds now nodded his 



vast concourse of birds from far and near, head and there arose out of the multitude 



who had come to witness the trial. In of birds a blue .crane, whose home was 



a measured and stentorian voice the king near the Gingago river in farthest India. 



asked the following questions of the cul- Its wings moved in even, silent, graceful 



prit: undulations. It gradually rose higher 



"Are you the handsomest of birds?" and higher. All of the birds, with the 



"I am," replied the Koko-bird. exception of the Koko-bird, watched it 



"Are you the best singer among spellbound until it appeared a mere speck 



birds?" in the' distance. The Koko-bird gave 



"I am," again replied the boastful bird, one glance at the high flyer, then curled 



