Hermes, wishing to test the prophetic art of Tiresias and see whether he told the truth, stole his oxen in the country, then came to find him in the town, in the guise of a mortal, and lodged with him. Told of the loss of his team, Tiresias took Hermes with him, went to the outskirts to observe an omen about the theft, and asked Hermes to tell him what bird he saw. Hermes first saw an eagle passing in flight from left to right, and told him so. Tiresias replied that this bird did not concern them. The second time, the god saw a crow perched on a tree, which now looked up, now bent towards the ground, and he announced it. Then the seer said, "Well, this crow swears by heaven and earth that it rests with you alone whether I recover my oxen."
*A thief may betray himself by trying to conceal what he has stolen.
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