An owl, who lived in a hollow tree, was in the habit of feeding by night and sleeping by day. However, her slumbers were greatly disturbed by the chirping of a grasshopper who had taken up his abode in the branches. She begged him repeatedly to have some consideration for her comfort, but the grasshopper, if anything, only chirped the louder.
At last, the owl could stand it no longer and determined to rid herself of the pest by means of a trick. Addressing the grasshopper in her pleasantest manner, she said, "As I cannot sleep for your song, which, believe me, is as sweet as the notes of Apollo's lyre, I have a mind to taste some nectar which Minerva gave me the other day. Won't you come in and join me?"
The grasshopper was flattered by the praise of his song, and his mouth watered at the mention of the delicious drink. He said he would be delighted. No sooner had he got inside the hollow where the owl was sitting than she pounced upon him and ate him up.