I. THE ROBIN. 



31 



nearly straight, forming, by their attachment, a finely 

 warped sail, like that of a windmill. But towards 

 the root of the feather they suddenly become weak, 

 and confusedly flexible, and form the close down 

 which immediately protects the bird's body. 



To show you the typical arrangement of these 

 partSf-I choose, as I have said, the robin ; because, 

 both- in his power of flying, and in his colour, he is a 

 moderate and balanced bird ; — not turned into 

 nothing but wings, like a swallow, or nothing but 

 neck and tail, like a peacock. And first for his 

 flying power. There is one of the long feathers of 

 robin's wing, and here (Fig. i) the analysis of its 

 form. 



Fig. I. 



(Twice the size of reality.)' 

 A 



a I 



a 2 



31. First, in pure outline (a), seen from above, 

 it is very nearly a long oval, but with this peculi- 



