Chapter Bill of Fare to Bird in the hand of B by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

birds are not to be caught with chaff. Experience teaches wisdom.
   One beats the bush, and another takes the bird. The workman does the work, the master makes the money.
   `Tis the early bird that catches the worm.

“Early to bed and early to rise,
   Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

   A little bird told me so. From Eccles. x. 20: “Curse not the king, no not in thy thought, ... for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.”

Bird in the hand A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Possession is better than expectation.
   Italian: “E meglio aver oggi un novo, che dimani una gallina.”
   French: "Il vaut mieux avoir l'oeuf aujourd'hui, que la poule demain” (Turkish).

“Un tien vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras.”

“Un sou, quand il est assuré, vaut mieux que cinq en espérance.”

   German: “Ein vogel in der hand ist besser als zehen über land.”

“Besser ein spatz in der hand, als ein storch auf dem dache.”

Latin: “Ego spem pretio non emam.”
English: “A pound in the purse is worth two in the book.”
   On the other side we have: “Qui ne s'aventure, n'a ni cheval ni mule.” “Nothing venture, nothing have.” “Give a sprat to catch a mackerel.” “Chi non s'arrischia, non guadagna.”