There was a Bird Catcher who was about to sit down for a dinner of herbs when his friend suddenly came in.
The bird-trap was quite empty, as he had caught nothing, and he had to kill a pied Partridge, which he had caught for trapping.
The bird earnestly said for his life: "What would you do without me when next you spread your nets? Who would chirp you to sleep, or call you for the answering birds?'' The Bird catcher spared his life, and determined to pick out a fine young Cock just standing next to him.
But the Cock said in sad tones from his perch: "If you kill me, who will announce to you the appearance of the dawn? Who will wake you to your daily tasks or tell you when it is time to visit the bird-trap in the morning?''
He replied,
"What you say is true.You are a capital bird at telling the time of
day. But my friend and I must have our dinners."
Moral: Necessity knows no law.