e castoff feathers of the Peacocks and
stuck them among his own black plumes.

Dressed in his borrowed finery he strutted loftily among the
birds of his own kind. Then he flew down into the garden among
the Peacocks. But they soon saw who he was. Angry at the cheat,
they flew at him, plucking away the borrowed feathers and also
some of his own.

The poor Jackdaw returned sadly to his former companions. There
another unpleasant surprise awaited him. They had not forgotten
his superior airs toward them, and, to punish him, they drove him
away with a rain of pecks and jeers.

_Borrowed feathers do not make fine birds._

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHIN

It happened once upon a time that a certain Greek ship bound for
Athens was wrecked off the coast close to Piraeus, the port of
Athens. Had it not been for the Dolphins, who at that time were
very friendly toward mankind and especially toward Athenians, all
would have perished. But the Dolphins took the shipwrecked people
on their backs and swam with them to shore.

Now it was the custom among the Greeks to take their pet monkeys
and dogs with them whenever they went on a voyage. So when one of
the Dolphins saw a Monkey struggling in the water, he thought it
was a man, and made the Monkey climb up on his back. Then off he
swam with him toward the shore.

The Monkey sat up, grave and dignified, on the Dolphin's back.

"You are a citizen of illustrious Athens, are you not?" asked the
Dolphin politely.

"Yes," answered the Monkey, proudly. "My family is one of the
noblest in the city."

"Indeed," said the Dolphin. "Then of course you often visit
Piraeus."

"Yes, yes," replied the Monkey. "Indeed, I do. I am with him
constantly. Piraeus is my very best friend."

This answer took the Dolphin by surprise, and, turning his head,
he now saw what it was he was carrying. Without more ado, he
dived and left the foolish Monkey to take care of himself, while
he swam off in search of some human being to save.

_One falsehood leads to another._

[Illustration]

THE WOLF AND THE ASS

An Ass was feeding in a pasture near a wood when he saw a Wolf
lurking in the shadows along the hedge. He easily guessed what
the Wolf had in mind, and thought of a plan to save himself. So
he pretended he was lame, and began to hobble painfully.

When the Wolf came up, he asked the Ass what had made him lame,
and the Ass replied that he ha