Somehow city and field sparrows flew into the grove. The leader of the city sparrows was an old shot sparrow, and he taught the young ones more than once:
- When feeding, do not make noise, do not quarrel, be careful. If you get caught in a hunting net, take off all together. First you will carry away the nets on your heads, and then you will untangle yourself.
City sparrows have always done this. They pecked the grain without unnecessary noise, did not start fights or quarrels, and if they happened to get caught in a hunter’s net, they rose into the air together and dropped the nets.
So they flew, as always, into the grove and met there with a flock of field sparrows. Tree sparrows were located on lower branches, city sparrows - on higher branches. And then, as if on purpose, one branch broke off and fell right on the heads of the tree sparrows.
The field sparrows became indignant and squealed:
- How dare you, city sparrows, throw branches?
City sparrows make excuses:
“We didn’t break any branches, we didn’t throw them at anyone, just one branch accidentally broke off and fell on its own, and no one is to blame for this.”
Tree sparrows do not stop. Know they are scolding. Well, what can you take from them: rude people, self-willed, quarrelsome. The tree sparrows began to pester the towns and got into a fight. And then there was such a scuffle, such a shout and hubbub arose that far all around you could hear the sparrows arguing.
The hunters heard a noise in the grove, crept up to the fighters and covered them with a net.
But the sparrows didn’t come to their senses here either. The townsfolk shout:
- Hey you, field sparrows! If you are such daredevils, then why don't you tear up the nets?
And they responded:
- Hey you braggarts! Come on, show your agility!
They quarreled and made noise, instead of breaking free together.
The hunters caught all the sparrows and sent them to the kitchen.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru