An Eagle, swooping down on powerful wings, seized a lamb in her
talons and made off with it to her nest. A Jackdaw saw the deed,
and his silly head was filled with the idea that he was big and
strong enough to do as the Eagle had done. So with much rustling
of feathers and a fierce air, he came down swiftly on the back of
a large Ram. But when he tried to rise again he found that he
could not get away, for his claws were tangled in the wool. And
so far was he from carrying away the Ram, that the Ram hardly
noticed he was there.
[Illustration]
The Shepherd saw the fluttering Jackdaw and at once guessed what
had happened. Running up, he caught the bird and clipped its
wings. That evening he gave the Jackdaw to his children.
"What a funny bird this is!" they said laughing, "what do you
call it, father?"
"That is a Jackdaw, my children. But if you should ask him, _he_
would say he is an Eagle."
_Do not let your vanity make you overestimate your powers._