The Birds The Beasts And The Bat

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The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat (Perry Index 566) is one of the oldest Aesop fables about the consequences of political opportunism. It appears in multiple classical collections under the Latin title Vespertilio Perfidus ("The Treacherous Bat"). The fable is also an etiological tale — it explains why bats are nocturnal creatures, banished to darkness as punishment for their double-dealing. Jean de La Fontaine adapted the story as La Chauve-souris et les deux Belettes (1668), shifting the focus to a bat outwitting two weasels. A related Aesop fable, The Bat and the Weasels (Perry 172), explores the same theme of identity-switching but treats it as clever survival rather than moral failure.

The Birds and the Beasts declared war against each other. No compromise was possible, and so they went at it with everything they had. The quarrel reportedly began because the Fox family had been terrorizing the Geese. But the Beasts had their own reasons to fight -- the Eagle was constantly swooping down on the Hare, and the Owl was dining on Mice every day.

It was a terrible battle. Many a Hare and many a Mouse fell. Chickens and Geese died by the score -- and the winner always stopped to feast on the fallen.

Now the Bat family had not openly joined either side. They were a very calculating bunch. When they saw the Birds getting the upper hand, they declared themselves Birds through and through. But the moment the tide of battle turned, they immediately switched to the side of the Beasts.

When the fighting finally ended, the Bats’ behavior was brought up at the peace conference. Such dishonesty was unforgivable. Birds and Beasts agreed on one thing: the Bats had to go. And so it has been ever since -- the Bat family hides in dark towers and abandoned ruins, venturing out only at night.

The deceitful have no friends.

The Birds and the Beasts declared war against each other. No compromise was possible, and so they went at it tooth and claw. It is said the quarrel grew out of the persecution the race of Geese suffered at the teeth of the Fox family. The Beasts, too, had cause for fight. The Eagle was constantly pouncing on the Hare, and the Owl dined daily on Mice.

It was a terrible battle. Many a Hare and many a Mouse died. Chickens and Geese fell by the score—and the victor always stopped for a feast.

Now the Bat family had not openly joined either side. They were a very politic race. So when they saw the Birds getting the better of it, they were Birds for all there was in it. But when the tide of battle turned, they immediately sided with the Beasts.

When the battle was over, the conduct of the Bats was discussed at the peace conference. Such deceit was unpardonable, and Birds and Beasts made common cause to drive out the Bats. And since then the Bat family hides in dark towers and deserted ruins, flying out only in the night.

The deceitful have no friends.

Frequently Asked Questions about The Birds The Beasts And The Bat

What is the moral of "The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat"?

The moral is "The deceitful have no friends." The Bat tries to play both sides during a war between the Birds and the Beasts, joining whichever faction appears to be winning. When peace comes, both sides compare notes and realize the Bat was never loyal to either group. The fable teaches that opportunistic allegiance destroys trust — and that people who switch sides for personal advantage will eventually be rejected by everyone. Aesop frames the punishment not as violence but as permanent social exclusion, suggesting that isolation is the natural consequence of dishonesty.

What is "The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat" about?

The fable tells the story of a war between the Birds and the Beasts. The conflict begins because foxes have been preying on geese, while eagles hunt hares and owls eat mice. As the battle rages, the Bat family refuses to commit to either side. Instead, they watch the fighting and join whichever side is winning at any given moment — claiming to be Birds when the Birds have the advantage, and switching to the Beasts when the tide turns. When the war ends, both sides agree that such treachery is unforgivable. The Bats are driven out, condemned to live in dark towers and ruins, flying only at night.

What does the Bat symbolize in this fable?

The Bat symbolizes the political opportunist or fence-sitter — someone who refuses to take a genuine stand and instead aligns with whichever side appears to be winning. Because bats are biologically unique (mammals that fly), they occupy a natural middle ground between "bird" and "beast," making them the perfect symbol for someone who exploits ambiguity for personal gain. In ancient Greek culture, the bat was already associated with duplicity and darkness. Aesop uses this symbolism to warn that people who constantly shift their loyalties — in friendships, politics, or alliances — will ultimately find themselves trusted by no one.

Why do bats only come out at night in this fable?

The fable explains that bats fly only at night as punishment for their treachery during the war between Birds and Beasts. After both sides discover the Bat’s double-dealing at the peace conference, they unite to banish the Bat from daylight society. This makes the story an etiological tale — a narrative that explains the origin of a natural phenomenon through storytelling. Ancient Greeks used these "just-so" stories to make sense of the world around them. The bat’s nocturnal habits, its solitary roosting in dark caves and ruins, and its strange appearance all made it a natural candidate for a cautionary tale about social exile.

What is the theme of "The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat"?

The central theme is the danger of divided loyalty and the cost of deception. The Bat’s strategy of switching sides appears clever during the chaos of war, but it collapses the moment peace arrives and both groups can compare notes. Related themes include the value of genuine commitment (both Birds and Beasts respect each other more than they respect the Bat), social trust as a fragile resource (once broken, the Bat can never rebuild it), and community versus isolation — the Bat’s punishment is not death but permanent exclusion from all society. The fable suggests that belonging requires honesty, even when honesty carries risk.

How does this fable compare to "The Bat and the Weasels"?

Both fables feature a bat that switches its identity to survive, but they reach opposite conclusions. In The Bat and the Weasels (Perry Index 172), a bat is caught by weasels twice — once by a bird-hating weasel and once by a mouse-hating weasel. Each time, the bat claims to be whatever the weasel does not hate, and escapes. That fable treats identity-switching as clever adaptability. In "The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat" (Perry Index 566), the same behavior is condemned as disloyal opportunism. The difference is context: adapting to save your life is wisdom, but switching allegiances for political advantage is fraud.

What is the Perry Index number for this fable?

"The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat" is classified as Perry Index 566 in the standard catalog of Aesopic fables compiled by classical scholar Ben Edwin Perry. The fable also appears under the Latin title Vespertilio Perfidus ("The Treacherous Bat"). It has been retold by numerous fabulists over the centuries, including Samuel Croxall and Roger L’Estrange in English, and by Jean de La Fontaine in French as La Chauve-souris et les deux Belettes (1668), though La Fontaine’s version draws more from the related "Bat and the Weasels" tradition.

What other Aesop fables should I read next?

If you enjoyed the story of the Bat’s double-dealing, here are more Aesop fables about loyalty, deception, and the consequences of self-interest:

  • The Wolf and the House Dog — A wolf discovers that the house dog’s comfort comes at the price of a collar and chain, choosing freedom over security.
  • The Goatherd and the Wild Goats — A goatherd neglects his own flock to impress wild goats, only to lose both — a lesson in misplaced loyalty.
  • The Sheep and the Pig — A pig’s squealing reveals the difference between losing wool and losing your life.
  • The Fox and the Leopard — A fox and a leopard argue about who is more beautiful, proving that inner qualities outshine outward appearance.

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