A Jackdaw, a black bird a little smaller than a, crow thought himself too good for his companions. " They say that clothes make the man, " he told himself. " I must stop going around in this dull black outfit." Finding some bright feathers that a peacock had shed, he stuck them all over himself. "Now," said the Jackdaw, " I am well dressed. All he strutted like a peacock across the lawn.
But the birds were not deceived, They mocked him and, when he continued to parade in his borrowed plumes, pecked at him until all fine feathers were torn off.
"I must have made a mistake, " he said ruefully, " I ought to go back and stay with my own kind."
But his own kind would have none of him. The other Jackdaws refused to let him join the flock. " You have given yourself too many aires," they said. " We were not good enough for you yesterday. Now you are not good enough for us. "
Österreich