ATU 150 The Three Teachings of the Bird (previously Advice of the Fox)

ATU 150

The Three Teachings of the Bird (previously Advice of the Fox)

Aarne–Thompson–Uther tale-type index · Animal Tales · The full type description is not served here; the number and name are the classification facts.

Motifs the recorded variants carry

"Rue not a thing that is past": counsel proved wise by experience. Man lets bird go and then, having listened to bird's false declaration that she had a precious gem in her body, he tries to climb a tree after her and falls. 1 variant
"Never believe what is beyond belief": counsel proved wise by experience. Man believes when bird tells him that she has a precious gem in her body. (Cf. J21.12, K604.) 1 variant
"Never try to reach the unattainable": counsel proved wise by experience. (Cf. K604.) 1 variant
The three teachings of the bird (fox). In return for release from captivity the bird (fox) gives the man three teachings. These usually mock the man for his foolishness in releasing what he has. (See for these counsels: J21.12, J21.13, J21.14.) 1 variant

Type numbers and names after Aarne–Thompson–Uther, via Hagedorn, trilogy (2022), CC-BY-NC-SA; motif links weighted by the dataset’s recorded tale variants. Served as classification facts with attribution.