The Bodhisatta was once a forest quail living on rough grass and seeds. A greedy crow of Bārāṇasī, who was in the forest, saw the quail and thought that the good condition of his body was due to rich food. The quail, seeing the crow, talked to him, and then the crow discovered that the quail had a beautiful body not because he ate rich food, but because he had contentment of mind and freedom from fear.

The story was related in reference to a greedy monk who is identified with the crow. J.iii.312 f.