That made the first quail angry, and before long
all were drawn into the dispute. Then the fowler
saw his chance. He imitated the cry of the quail
and cast his net over those who came together.
They were still boasting and quarreling, and they
did not help one another lift the net. So the
hunter lifted the net himself and crammed them
into his basket. But the wise quail gathered his
friends together and flew far away, for he knew
that quarrels are the root of misfortune.
THE MAGPIE'S NEST
BY JOSEPH JACOBS
All the birds of the air came to the magpie and
asked her to teach them how to build nests. For
the magpie is the cleverest bird of all at building
nests. So she put all the birds round her and
began to show them how to do it. First of all she
took some mud and made a sort of round cake
with it.
``Oh, that's how it's done!'' said the thrush,
and away it flew; and so that's how thrushes build
their nests.
Then the magpie took some twigs and arranged
them round in the mud.
``Now I know all about it!'' said the blackbird,
and off it flew; and that's how the blackbirds
make their nests to this very day.
Then the magpie put another layer of mud over
the twigs.
``Oh, that 's quite obvious!'' said the wise owl,
and away it flew; and owls have never made
better nests since.
After this the magpie took some twigs and
twined them round the outside.
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