從前，有一隻非常聰明的貓頭鷹給了其他鳥兒很多建議。他要他們在櫟樹剛開始發芽的時候就要把它連根拔起，以免它繼續生長，因為櫟樹會長出用來製造粘鳥膠（人們捕鳥的主要工具）的槲寄生。接著，貓頭鷹又建議鳥們要把人們種植的亞麻種子拿走，因為這種植物對於鳥兒來說是不好的預兆。最後，貓頭鷹看到一個弓箭手，就鄭重其事地對鳥兒們說： “你們要千萬小心這個人，因為他會發射帶有羽毛的武器。這種武器飛行的速度比我們快多了。 ”可是，鳥兒們卻對貓頭鷹的警告毫不在意，認為他是瘋了才會胡言亂語。
但是不久之後，鳥兒就發現貓頭鷹的話是正確的，因此他們一致認為貓頭鷹在鳥類中最有知識和智慧，也是無所不知的。但是，貓頭鷹沒有再給他們任何建議，隻是在哀悼他們的愚蠢。要毀滅掉邪惡的種子，否則它長大後將會後患無窮。
An Owl，in her wisdom，seled the Birds that when the a .rst began to sprout，to pull it all up out of the ground and not allow it to grow. She said as would produce mistletoe，from whi irremediable poison，the bird-lime，would be extrad by which they would be captured. The Owl advised them to pluck up the seed of the .ax，whi had sown，as it lant whio good to them. And，lastly， the Owl，seeing an archer approach，predicted that this man，being on foot， would trive darts armed with feathers which would fly faster than the wihemselves. The Birds gave hese warning words，but sidered the Owl to be beside herself and said that she was mad.
But afterwards，finding her words were true，they wo her knowledge ao be the wisest of birds. Hehat ears they look to her as knowing all things，while she hem advi solitude lame folly.
Destroy the seed of evil，or it will grow up to your ruin.