at this time the birds also had their own language which every one understood; now it only sounds like chirping, screeching, and whistling, and to some like music without words. it came into the bird’s mind, however, that they would no longer be without a ruler, and would choose one of themselves to be their king. one alone amongst them, the green plover, was opposed to this. he had lived free, and would die free, and anxiously flying hither and thither, he cried, "where shall i go? where shall i go?" he retired into a solitary and unfrequented marsh, and showed himself no more among his fellows.