SOME BIRD NOTABILITIES 227 



were after them for their valuable head-dresses, 

 and soon there were only a few left to come back 

 to the wise king and beg him to take back 

 his gift. Solomon said that it would not be 

 the part of a king to do that ; crowns they 



asked for and crowns they must always wear, 

 but he changed the crown of gold for a crown 

 of orange feathers, and the hoopoes have 

 carried this ever since. A very absurd tale, 

 perhaps you will say ; but, after all, it is not 



