Alas! As soon as it became known that all the hoopoes in the country had crowns of pure gold on their heads, hordes of amateur hunters invaded the once quiet woods and hurled stones at the hoopoes, shot arrows, threw sticks and spears, and stuck birdlime on nearly all the trees in the country. The unfortunate hoopoes were diminished in numbers so rapidly that they came perilously near extinction.

The King of the Hoopoes realized that soon none of his subjects would be alive if he did not take action. He flew along an unknown route over the desert to King Solomon’s palace, where he requested an urgent audience.

As soon as he was admitted to His Majesty’s presence, the old bird bowed deeply, put down his crown before King Solomon’s feet, and spoke: “Sire! It has pleased God to punish us hoopoes for our vanity.  We shall soon be an extinct species if Your Majesty does not pray the Almighty Lord to remove our crowns so that human greed will no longer extend its murderous hands to end our lives.  We are in great danger, Lord!”

The wise king answered: “Dear friend!  Your wish will be fulfilled.  It has pleased God, moreover, to replace your golden crown by one of feathers.”  Thus it happened!  The golden crowns disappeared and brightly colored feathers grew on the hoopoes’ heads to commemorate the day when they had helped King Solomon to overcome the hot sunshine.

The Male Pigeon

One day when Solomon was still young, he overheard a male pigeon courting, or as we would now say, “chatting up” his girlfriend.  “I can break down this castle any day if I want to!” the pigeon boasted.  Whereupon Solomon called him and spoke to him in pigeon language:  “Go ahead, my friend, do your worst!”  “I did not really mean it, Your Highness,” answered the pigeon humbly.  “I was only talking to my friend here the way a man talks to a woman!”  “You know very well,” young Solomon reprimanded him, “that you must never say things that you cannot make true!”

Totally contrite, the pigeon made a deep obeisance to Solomon and flew back to his mate, who asked him: “What did that young man want of you?”  The male pigeon answered: “He begged and implored me not to destroy this fine castle yet!”