24 love's MEmiE. 



cision of his movements, as oj)posed to birds who either 

 creak in flying, or waddle in walking. " Always quiet," 

 says Gould, ^for the' silkiness, of his plumage renders his 

 movements noiseless, and the rustling; of his wino^s is 

 never heard, any more than his tread on earth, over whicl 

 he bounds with amazing sprightliness." You know hov 

 much importance I have always given, among the fin-, 

 arts, to good dancing. If you think of it, you will find 

 one of the robin's very chief ingratiatory faculties is his 

 dainty and delicate movement, — his footing it featly here 

 and there. Whatever prettiness there may be in his red 

 breast, at his brightest he can always be outshone by a 

 brickbat. But if he is rationally proud of anything about 

 him, I should think a robin must be proud of liis legs. 

 Hundreds of birds have longer and more imposing ones — 

 but for real neatness, finish, and precision of action, com- 

 mend me to his fine little ankles, and fine little feet ; this 

 long stilted process, as you know, corresponding to our 

 ankle-bone. Commend me, I say, to the robin for use of 

 his ankles — he is, of all birds, the pre-eminent and char- 

 acteristic Hopper ; none other so light, so pert, or so 

 swift. 



25. We must not, however, give too much credit to his 

 legs in this matter. A robin's hop is half a flight ; he 

 hops, very essentially, with wings and tail, as well as with 

 his feet, and the exquisitely rapid opening and quivering 

 of the tail-feathers certainly give half the force to his 

 leap. It is in this action that he is put among the mota- 



