AND OTHER BIRDS 181 



screams, and as eager as the mature birds to rug 

 and tug at feathers happily within reach, and it 

 was truly ludicrous to watch their juvenile par- 

 ticipation in the cruel fun. This pleasure, 

 is denied entirely only to the central quartet of 

 nesting birds those, that is, in possession of the 

 very best and centralmost building sites, and by 

 whose homes consequently no Shag passes on 

 foot. It is enjoyed to the uttermost and without 

 fear of retaliation only by the outermost birds, 

 those, that is, with wind-blown and spray-beaten 

 nests and is delightfully prolonged by a tardi- 

 ness of progression that not even shame and fear 

 can accelerate. 



The Shag, when on foot, must raise high his 

 feet; he must carefully plant them down, and, 

 with what joy must he not fall over the cliff's 

 edge and feel the air beneath his wings. 



In its conjunction of trepidation and shame, 

 the mien of a cowed Shag, thus passing down 

 one of these terrible lanes, can be compared only 

 to that of a nervous person threading the aisle 

 of a great church, alone, with creaking boots, 

 the parson stopping his discourse the better to 

 emphasise his displeasure, and every individual 

 of the congregation rising to yell opprobrious 

 remarks, whilst those at the pew doors hurl their 

 hymn books, kick, and attempt to trip him; or, 

 to that of a man in a nightmare, conscious more 

 of ignominy than of fear, condemned to pass, 

 companionless in his shame through a ball- 

 room without his trousers, and with the 

 further consciousness of thick ankles, negro 

 heels, mis-shapen calves, and that he has not 

 washed his legs for a fortnight and two days. 



Such are the agonies that Shags can inflict 



