"Are you the best singer among birds?"
"I am," again replied the boastful bird.
"Are you the most graceful and the highest flyer among birds?"
"I am," replied the braggart for the third time.
The king of birds then flapped his right wing and there came forth the gorgeous bird of paradise, with the beautiful and wonderful tail feathers and crown, at the sight of which the members of the bird council individually and collectively flapped their wings in admiration. The eagle once more turned to the Koko-bird and in a terrible voice demanded:
"Are you still the handsomest among birds? Heed well your answer."
The Koko-bird gave one sidelong squint at the beautiful bird and said:
"I am," in a very indifferent tone of voice; whereat the assembled birds were astonished.
The king of birds then flapped his left wing and there came forth a nightingale which began to sing so sweetly that some of the listeners fell from their perches out of sheer ecstasy and they would have been hurt by the fall had they not caught themselves in the air by means of their wings. Even the king of birds was greatly moved, for he was seen to brush a tear from his right eye before he turned to the Koko-bird and spoke in a thunderous voice:
"You have heard this marvelous singer. Are you still the best vocalist among birds? Heed well your answer."