The Dabchick and Raven 
nette in the Venus and Adonis, which brings 
the bird before our eyes, as it may be seen 
on many a stream or lake in this country 
and even on artificial waters, such as those of 
St. James’s Park. The passage represents 
Venus vowing to her unresponsive mortal 
“by her fair immortal hand” : 
Upon this promise did he raise his chin 
Like a dive-dapper peering through a wave 
Who, being look’d on, ducks as quickly in.! 
The birds of the crow family are well 
represented in Shakespeare’s works. Chief 
among them comes the RAvEN, to which 
frequent and effective allusion is made. 
The remarkably dark hue of the bird, in- 
cluding even his bill and his feet, has made 
his name proverbial as a type of the deep- 
est blackness in Nature. In one of the 
Sonnets it is said that 
In the old age black was not counted fair, 
Or if it were, it bore not beauty’s name ; 
But now is black beauty’s successive heir : 
Therefore my mistress’ eyes are raven black.? 
1 Venus and Adonis, 85. 2 Sonnets, CXXVII. 
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