iodically visited the abode of the partridges and devoured their
young ones. When the pair had thus several times lost their progeny,
the male proposed that it would either be necessary for them to
emigrate to some other locality, or to try some expedient by which
they might escape from the rapacity of the eagle. He was of opinion
that even in case of failure they might gain some valuable experience
that would be of use in future attempts to elude the persecution, and
said: "We must at all events make a trial, and may learn something
from it, like the donkey who endeavoured to become the companion of
the camel." The she-partridge asked, "How was that?" and the male
continued:

II.

'"Once a donkey tried to keep up walking with a big camel, who paced
lustily, and took long steps, but the ass, being in a hurry, stumbled
every moment, and found that he had undertaken an impossible task. He
asked the camel, 'How is it I wound my hoofs on the rocks so often,
although I constantly look where I am stepping; whilst you, who
apparently walk with leisure, never cast a glance at any of the
obstacles you meet with, and never hurt yourself?' The camel replied:
'The reason is just because you are short-sighted and of weak
intellect; you can look no further than your nose, and are, therefore,
disappointed; whereas I look always forward, know the obstacles I am
likely to encounter, scan the road to a great distance, and avoid the
difficulties, selecting the easiest parts of the way.'" The wise hen
said: "To be forewarned is to be forearmed, and this principle I
follow." "I have narrated this story to show you that we must look
forward, now that the time of laying eggs is at hand, because when our
little ones are hatched it may again be too late to try and save
them."

'The female partridge said: "This is all very well, but we might fare
like the hungry fox who would have lost his life if the ichneumon had
not interceded for him with the camel." The male said "How was that?"
and the female continued:

III.

'"It is related that a certain fox had a fine large den, in which he
collected provisions for the winter and for the summer, fared
sumptuously, and never suffered from want. Once, however, a large army
of ants invaded his domicile, and made short work of all the victuals
he had carefully stored. This misfortune befel him just at a time when
the weather happened to be very cold and food scarce, so that he began
to feel