THE RETURN OF THE NATIVES. 79 



over the fields. But if the redbreast of England 

 " is the pre-eminent and characteristic hopper, so 

 light and swift," ours is the foremost, as a runner 

 and glider. How quickly and gracefully he meas- 

 ures off a rod of meadow land ! He is as different 

 from the awkward, noisy jackdaws as the proud 

 field-marshal beside a ^company of lumbering, 

 heavy-footed soldiers. He appears to treat every- 

 body with lofty airs, and has a peculiarly indif- 

 ferent manner, when searching for his food, which 

 you half-suspect to be assumed. His head is 

 proudly uplifted the most of the time during his 

 rambles, as though he did not like to be caught in 

 such a lowly occupation as hunting for worms in 

 the sod. Here he runs directly up to a burrow, as 

 if he had been drawn there by a magnet, and 

 remaining motionless for an instant, then drops his 

 head half-way to the ground, apparently to listen. 

 Having made up his mind that the succulent game 

 is at home, he gives a quick stab with his spear, 

 and draws out the wi'iggling prey, which is imme- 

 diately swallowed. He has the curious habit of 

 turning off abruptly at right angles, or retracing 

 his steps a yard or two, as if he had just recalled 

 to mind a spot where there was likely to live a 

 squirming tid-bit. 



