Hoopoes became very airy, and
refused to speak to her own cousin and to the other birds who had once
been her friends.

There was a certain fowler who used to set traps for birds. He put a
piece of broken mirror into his trap, and a Hoopoe spying it went in to
admire herself, and was caught. The fowler looked at the shining crown
upon her head and said, "What have we here! I never saw a crown like
this upon any bird. I must ask about this."

So he took the crown to Issachar, the worker in metal, and asked him
what it was. Issachar examined it carefully, and his eyes stuck out of
his head. But he said carelessly, "It is a crown of brass, my friend. I
will give you a quarter of a shekel for it; and if you find any more
bring them to me. But be sure to tell no other man of the matter." (A
shekel was about sixty-two cents.)

After this the fowler caught many Hoopoes in the same way, and sold
their crowns to Issachar. But one day as he was on his way to the
metalworker's shop he met a jeweler, and to him he showed one of the
Hoopoes' crowns.

"What is this, and where did you find it?" exclaimed the jeweler. "It is
pure gold. I will give you a golden talent for every four you bring me."
(A talent was worth three hundred shekels.)

Now when the value of the Hoopoes' crowns was known, every one turned
fowler and began to hunt the precious birds. In all the land of Israel
was heard the twang of bows and the whirling of slings. Bird lime was
made in every town, and the price of traps rose in the market so that
the trap-makers became rich men. Not a Hoopoe could show his unlucky
head without being slain or taken captive, and the days of the Hoopoes
were numbered. It seemed that soon there would be no more Hoopoes left
to bewail their sad fate.

At last the few who still lived gathered together and held a meeting to
consider what should be done, for their minds were filled with sorrow
and dismay. And they decided to appeal once more to King Solomon, who
had granted their foolish prayer.

Flying by stealth through the loneliest ways, the unhappy King of the
Hoopoes came at last to the court of the King, and stood once more
before the steps of his golden throne. With tears and groans he related
the sad fortune which had befallen his golden-crowned race.

King Solomon looked kindly upon the King of the Hoopoes and said,
"Behold, did I not warn you of your folly in desiring to have crowns of
gold? Vanity and pride have been