I. THE ROBIN. 27 



the pre-eminent and characteristic 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 

 opeHfflg- 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 motacillae, or wagtails ; 

 but the ornithologists have no real business to put 

 him among them. The swing of the long tail 

 feathers in the true wagtail is entirely consequent 

 on its motion, not impulsive of it — the tremulous 

 shake is after alighting. But the robin leaps with 

 wing, tail, and foot, all in time, and all helping 

 each other. Leaps, I say ; and you check at the 

 word ; and ought to check : you look at a bird hop- 

 ping, and the motion is so much a matter of course, 

 you never think how it is done. But do you think 

 you would find it easy to hop like a robin if you 

 had two — all but wooden — legs, like this .'' 



26. I have looked wholly in vain through all my 

 books on birds, to find some account of the muscles 

 it uses in hopping, and of the part of the toes with 

 which the spring is given. I must leave you to find 

 out that for yourselves; it is a little bit of anatomy 

 which I think it highly desirable for you to know, 



