A singing bird was confined in a cage which hung outside a window,

　　and had a way of singing at night when all other birds were asleep.

　　One night a Bat came and clung to the bars of the cage, and asked

　　the Bird why she was silent by day and sang only at night. "I have a

　　very good reason for doing so," said the Bird. "It was once when I was

　　singing in the daytime that a fowler was attracted by my voice, and

　　set his nets for me and caught me. Since then I have never sung except

　　by night." But the Bat replied, "It is no use your doing that now when

　　you are a prisoner: if only you had done so before you were caught,

　　you might still have been free."

　　"Precautions are useless after the crisis."