26 LOVES MEINIE. 



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 importance 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 out- 

 shone 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, corresponding to our ankle-bone. 

 Commend me, I say, to the robin for use of 

 his ankles — he is, of all birds, the pre-eminent 

 and characteristic Hopper; none other so light, 

 so pert, or so swift. 



25. We must not, however, give too much 



