The Jataka story of the Owl and the Crow
Once upon the time, at the beginning of the world, all people assembled and chose for their king, a very good and handsome man. The four footed animals also assembled and chose the lion to be their king. The fish in the ocean gathered together and chose the fish named Ananda for their king. Then all the birds in the Himalayas forests assembled upon a flat rock, crying:
"Among men there is a king, and among the beasts and the fish there are kings too. But among us there is no king. We cannot live without a leader. Let's choose someone and set him in the king's place."
They looked for such a bird and chose the owl. "Here is the bird we like," said they. Seeing all of them agreed to this, a bird made the announcement three times, "Friends, on behalf of all birds, you are invited to vote on this matter."
On hearing the announcement, the Crow thought, "If that is what the Owl looks like when he doesn't get angry, how will he look like when he is angry. If he only looks at us in anger, we shall be scattered like sesame seeds thrown on a hot pan. I don't want to make him king." After patiently hearing the announcement twice, on the third time, he then rose up and said, "You say that this Owl is the king over all the birds. May I give you one suggestion?" All the birds said, "All right , friend. But you ought to speak the good and the right, because there are also other birds who are young, wise and bright."
Having been given the chance, the Crow said,"Look at the Owl's face, friends! If this is what he looks like when he is glad. How will he look like when he is angry? I am not going to accept him as our king." And he flew up in the air, shrieking, "I don't like him! I don't like him!" The owl rose up and chased him. From that time on the Crow has been the big enemy of the Owl. All the other birds chose the golden Goose for their king and the meeting was over.
The Buddha told the the story about a quarrel between the Crows and the Owls while residing at Jetavana and ended his discourse by identifying the golden Goose as the Master himself.
*Drawn from the Uluka Jataka, No. 270.