26 love's meinie. 



little flat hook at the end of the upper mandible is 

 one of the most delicately formed points of forceps 

 which you can find among the grain eaters. But I 

 pass to one of his more special perfections. 



24. He is very notable in the exquisite silence 

 and precision of his movements, as opposed 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 wings is never heard, any more 

 than his tread on earth, over which he bounds with 

 amazing sprightliness." You know how much im- 

 portance I have always given, among the fine 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 his legs. Hundreds of 

 birds have longer and more imposing ones — but 

 for real neatness, finish, and precision of action, 

 commend me to his fine little ankles, and fine little 

 feet ; this long stilted process, as you know, corre- 

 sponding to our ankle-bone. Commend me, I say, 

 to the robin for use of his ankles — he is, of all birds, 



