Previously, the magpie had a short tail, like all birds. But she was always talkative. Wherever he hears something, he will immediately spread it throughout the taiga and even add it from himself. It meant no life for the birds. So they complained to the eagle. The eagle called all the birds to a council and said to the magpie:
- Darling, your tongue is painfully long. You talk too much. You're hurting the birds in vain.
- Am I talking?! - the magpie perked up. - It's not true! This is all partridge gossip! I already know her! I saw it myself: at night a partridge flew from its nest to the tundra. Where has it been seen that a decent bird...
- Wait! - the eagle stopped her. - You're spreading gossip again!
- What kind of gossip is this?! Yesterday a crow croaked to her husband that the cuckoo had broken all the eggs in other people’s nests...
- Stop it! - the eagle cried menacingly. “You obviously don’t understand where you are.”
- Is it me who doesn’t understand?! - the magpie chattered. - Look at the wood grouse: he really has lost all shame. Look how he dressed up! I even painted my eyebrows!..
- Enough! - the eagle shouted. - Apparently, you, magpie, are incorrigible. I need to stay away from you. Let your long tongue trail behind your long tail, so that the birds will immediately recognize you and beware.
Since then, the magpie has had a long tail. Where she appears, the birds fly away into the bushes - out of harm’s way.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru