An Eagle, swooping down on powerful wings, seized a lamb in her talons and made off with it to her nest. A Jackdaw saw the deed, and his silly head was filled with the idea that he was big and

An Eagle, swooping down on powerful wings, seized a lamb in her talons and made off with it to her nest.

A Jackdaw saw the deed, and his silly head was filled with the idea that he was just as big and strong as the mighty Eagle.

Determined to prove himself, he scanned the ground below and spotted a fat, woolly sheep grazing peacefully.

"If the Eagle can do it, so can I!" the Jackdaw thought proudly.

With all the grace of a falling coconut, he dove toward the sheep, spread his tiny claws, and—thud!—crashed right into the sheep’s thick wool.

Unfortunately, his claws got tangled in the fluffy fleece, and no matter how much he flapped, he couldn't lift the sheep—or himself—off the ground.

The sheep barely noticed.

A nearby farmer, watching the whole fiasco, chuckled to himself, walked over, and easily plucked the foolish bird from the sheep’s back.

"Well, well," he laughed, "looks like someone thinks he's stronger than he really is!"

He then took the Jackdaw home, clipped his wings, and gave him to his children as a pet.

As the kids ran around chasing their new pet, the humiliated Jackdaw sighed, "I really should’ve aimed for a mouse."

Moral of the story: Just because you THINK you're an eagle doesn't mean you can carry a sheep. Know your strengths before you try to fly too high!