The Fox and the Leopard

"Forty-one," said the leopard, holding out his long golden tail. "Forty-two. Forty-three. Now, this one here is my favourite. Do you see how it makes a ring?"

The fox yawned. They had been arguing since sunrise about which of them was the more beautiful, and neither would give way. So the leopard had begun to show his spots, one by one.

He showed the spots along his back. He showed the spots down his legs. He rolled over and showed the pale spots on his belly.

"Ninety-nine," said the leopard. "One hundred. One hundred and one. You have nothing like that, have you? Just one plain red coat. Now, look at this next one. It is..."

"Stop there," said the fox. "I am far more beautiful than you." He tapped the side of his head with one paw. "You wear your beauty on your skin. I wear mine in here."