248 WAGTAILS AND PIPITS 



of gravity, to regain it in, and with, a flash. No less pleasing to 

 witness than these acrobatic feats of theirs, is the delight and satisfac- 

 tion which they evidently feel in performing them, and the state of 

 their tails, as they come down, is a wonder, as well as a joy. These 

 are long, even to the limit of graceful proportion, and not only is the 

 tail itself tilted to a quite astonishing height, but the whole of the 

 after part of the body goes with it, and more than half the bird 

 swings lightly up and down. The first tilt is always the highest, a 

 slightly lesser elevation being reached with each successive one, till 

 either the bird regains its stability, or a fresh initial impetus sets it 

 tilting, again, with redoubled energy. Sometimes one or other of the 

 pair will fly almost vertically up from the stone on which they were 

 standing, and, rising to quite a height, catch an insect in the most 

 fairy-like manner. When not thus aerially occupied, they keep 

 running about over the stones or pebbles, and in the shallow water, 

 into which they make many a little peck, and occasionally pull a 

 leaf out of it, as if for the pleasure of doing so. In such actions we 

 probably see the first step towards an aquatic mode of life, taken by 

 birds who, both in appearance and general habits, are far less water- 

 loving than wagtails. Even so woodland a one as the robin, may, for 

 several "little moments," be the companion of such a pair as this, 

 and the chaffinch will sometimes catch mayflies, almost on the surface 

 of the stream. But, for the robin, he, I believe, may in time become 

 a red-breasted wagtail himself, for he will run that is, hop almost 

 jostling these golden-hued grey ones, upon the stones, in mid stream, 

 that the water leaves partly uncovered, pecking and investigating, 

 wetting his feet and his forehead, as they do, whilst, ever and anon, 

 darting into the air, to catch flies, in just the same manner. With 

 a difference, however, for though active enough and indeed his 

 little turns, twists, and jerks, whilst on his feet, would be hard to 

 excel, yet aerially as an acrobatic fly-catcher he is not quite so 

 finished a performer it is the fairies against very Titania. His tail 

 too but no more need be said. 



