The Birds of Shakespeare 
disperses her train on their several quests, 
bids } 
Some keep back 
The clamorous owl, that nightly hoots and wonders 
At our quaint spirits.? 
The popular association of owls with 
supernatural beings is again noted in the 
Comedy of Errors, where poor Dromio of 
Syracuse, utterly bamboozled by the con- 
fusion of Dromios and Antonios, ex- 
claims: 
This is the fairy-land : O land of spites! 
We talk with goblins, owls and sprites ; 
If we obey them not, this will ensue, 
They'll suck our breath, or pinch us black and blue.? 
The cuckoo receives nearly as ‘much 
notice from Shakespeare as the Owl. In 
the bright song at the end of Love's 
Labour's Lost both birds appear as sym- 
bolical, the one of spring, the other of 
winter. 
When daisies pied and violets blue, 
And lady-smocks all silver-white, 
1 Midsummer Night's Dream, 1. il. 5. 2H. i. 188. 
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