BIRD LEGEND AND LIFE 



Another story is told in many lands of how a wren, pos- 

 sibly a descendant of this one — for it surely had human in- 

 telligence — ^became the king of birds. 



It was resolved in the time "when men were as animals 

 and animals as men" that he should be king who could fly 

 the highest. The eagle, who everyone thought would win, 

 in full confidence of victory, immediately began his flight to- 

 ward the Sim. When he had distanced all his competitors 

 and his strength was spent, m a loud voice he announced 

 his monarchy over all things with wings. 



A crafty wren, who had hidden among the eagle's 

 feathers, emerged, and, flying a little higher, called in a 

 shrill, jubilant voice : "Birds, look up and behold your king !" 



fThe other birds allowed the claim of the wren, who was 

 duly installed in office, when the angry eagle, exasperated at 

 the decision, caught the wren in his talons, and, flying almost 

 out of sight, dropped him to the earth. The wren, more 

 frightened than hurt, when he had gathered himself together 

 and taken an inventory of his injuries, discovered that he had 

 suffered no loss except a piece of his tail, which was broken 

 off in the fall. Derisively flipping the expressive stub, he 

 flew to the highest bough of a great elm and sang an ex- 

 ultant song. 



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