THE ROCK THRUSH AND THE BABBLERS. 83 



catalogue may be found typified in some beast or bird. 

 So I hold. And if this be true, then the phase of 

 character which is expressed by the Babbler is 

 jolly-goodfellowism. Not being acquainted with the 

 method of distilling spirits, it does not pass the flowing 

 bowl, but a large portion of its life is devoted to at 

 fresco eating parties, in which the excitement of 

 finding the viands is combined with the pleasure of 

 consuming them, and the utmost conviviality prevails. 

 These parties are not too large for true sociality. 

 They consist of about half-a-dozen, whence the popular 

 name of the bird. There is no distinction of host and 

 guest : all are equal. They begin under some tree 

 where the leaves have fallen thick, and proceed as 

 humour leads. Each helps himself to what he can 

 find, turning over the dead leaves and pouncing on any 

 tempting morsel that tries to hurry away. If one is 

 lucky and lights on a particularly fat lot, his neigh- 

 bours come to his aid, and there is a good-humoured 

 squabble over the partition of it. There is a regular 

 flow of small talk, a good deal of mirth and laughter, 

 occasionally an eager dispute, but never a quarrel. 

 " Fighting? " says Phil Robinson, " Xot at all ; do not 

 be misled by the tone of voice. That heptachord cla- 

 mour is not the expression of any strong feelings. It 

 is only a way they have." They will light for each 

 other, but not with each other. Woe to the sparrow 

 hawk that thinks to make a prey of any one of that 

 party. Only a rash young fool would attempt such a 

 thing, and it will be taught wisdom. But. though the 

 Babblers dine together, they do not live together. Each 

 pair makes its nest apart, affecting great secrecy and 

 deluding the egg-collector with mingled impudence 



