Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/320

312 come, because it happened that his mate was sitting just then. So all the birds agreed that whoever saw the owl and did not beat him should also be an outcast and be treated as an enemy.

For this reason the owl does not go about by day, but goes by night; for if any birds see him they all strive together to beat him.

And the big hawk also sought to be king, and appointed himself, but the others did not agree to it, so he went away from them all at enmity with them. And whatever bird this hawk sees he swoops down upon, because he is their enemy; and the rest chose one who should be their king. So they chose the railòvy (a shrike, Dicrurus forficatus), because of his good position, and long top-knot, and variety of note.

And that is said to be why people consider the railòvy to be king of the birds.

It once happened, 'tis said, that the wild-cat and the rat played together; the rat was housekeeper, and the wild-cat was the hunter. So the cat went hunting, and the rat dug a hole without the cat knowing what his intentions were, and these two took counsel together and decided to go and steal an ox.

So they went off to rob, and got a fattened ox; and the rat was overreached by the cat, for the latter ate the flesh and gave the rat only the bones. And when the pair had eaten, there was still a great deal left, so the rat begged some flesh, but the cat would not give it, but gave him the skin. Then the cat made kitòza (dried meat cut up in long strips) of the flesh and sewed it up in a basket, and after hanging it up from the ridge of the house went away to hunt.

After the cat had gone away hunting, the rat made a hole in the basket and ate up all the dried meat. As soon as the cat came home from hunting he said, "Come, let us get some kitòza to serve as a relish for our rice, my friend." But lo and behold, when he looked he found nothing. So the cat was extremely angry, and chased the rat; but he got into his hole and so was not taken. Then the cat invoked a curse, saying, "Whoever are my descendants indeed, they must kill these rats." And that, they say, is why the cat eats rats.