The Birds of Shakespeare 
Henry IV. avails himself of this common 
observation when he lectures his son on 
his misdoings, and compares the Prince’s 
career to that of “the skipping king” of 
the previous reign, who lost the respect of 
the people, and 
Was but as the cuckoo is in June, 
Heard not regarded.? 
The habit of this bird to lay its egg in 
another’s nest is naturally made much of 
in the Plays. We are ‘told “that, tie 
cuckoo builds not for himself,”’ and the 
poet puts questions which still await 
an answer : 
Why should the worm intrude the maiden tid P 
Or hateful cuckoos hatch in sparrows’ nests ? 3 
The very name of the bird could be used 
as a term of reproach, as where Falstaff, in 
retort to the repeated gibes of the Prince 
of Wales, calls him, ‘“‘ Ye cuckoo.’’* 
oy enry IV, 111..al. 75: 
2 Antony and Cleopatra, i. vi. 28. 3 Lucrece, 848. 
a1 denny AF i. Veg, 
62 
