LL-L 'Etymology' 2006.08.07 (04) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 07 August 2006 * Volume 04
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From: 'Ben J. Bloomgren' <godsquad at cox.net>
Subject: LL-L 'Etymology' 2006.08.06 (04) [D/E/LS/German]

Actually, there is a fable about the origin of the German name, "Zaunkönig"
(king of the fence). The birds wanted to find out who was their king, and
decided it would be the one who could fly the highest (much to the chagrin
of the ostrich, who had hoped they would go for size). So they all rose into
the sky as high as they could, but the eagle had the strongest wings, which
carried him higher than anybody else. But just when he had reached his limit
and could rise no more, a tiny bird crept out from under his wing where it
had been hiding in his feathers, and effortlessly flew just a little bit
higher still, shouting, "I am king!". They couldn't deny it had won the
title, but all the other birds, especially the eagle, of course, were really
miffed, so the little king of birds has been forced to hide in fences and
hedges ever since, avoiding the wrath of the eagle...

Gabriele and list, were there really ostriches in Europe. I thought that
they were a tropical/subtropical bird.
Ben 

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