The Kites, the crows, and the fox

The kites and the crows made an agreement among themselves that they should go halves in everything obtained in the forest. One day they saw a fox that had been wounded by hunters lying helpless under a tree, and gathered round it.

The crows said, “we will take the upper half of the fox.” “Then we will take the lower half,” said the kites.

The fox laughed at this, and said, “I always thought the kites were superior in creation to the crows; as such they must get the upper half of my body, of which my head, with the brain and other delicate things in it, forms a portion.”

“Oh, yes, that is right,” said the kites, “we will have that part of the fox.” “Not at all,” said the crows, “we must have it, as already agreed.” Then a war arose between the rival parties, and a great many fell on both sides, and the remaining few escaped with difficulty.

The fox continued there for some days, leisurely feeding on the dead kites and crows, and then left the place hale and hearty.

Observing, “the weak benefit by the quarrels of the mighty.”

Indian Fables