some equally brainy bird

“I’m not absolutely certain of my facts, but I rather fancy it’s Shakespeare — or, if not, it’s some equally brainy bird — who says that it’s always just when a fellow is feeling particularly braced with things in general that Fate sneaks up behind him with the bit of lead piping.”

—P.G. Wodehouse, “Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest” (in Carry on, Jeeves)