The Birds of Shakespeare 
Stones have been known to move and trees to speak ; 
Augures and understood relations have 
By maggot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth 
The secret’st man of blood.1 
The sTARLING is mentioned only once by 
Shakespeare, in a passage which shows 
that in his time this bird, which has so 
remarkable a power of imitation, was 
taught to say some words. The fiery 
Hotspur declares that although the King 
had forbidden him to speak of Mortimer 
he would find his Majesty 
When he lies asleep, 
And in his ear [’ll holla ‘ Mortimer !’ 
Nay, 
Pll have a starling shall be taught to speak 
Nothing but ‘ Mortimer,’ and give it him, 
To keep his anger still in motion.” 
The JAcKDAw appears occasionally in the 
dramas as obviously a familiar bird, but no 
outstanding characters are assigned to it, 
except that it was common and looked 
upon as somewhat stupid. Reference has 
1 Macbeth, 11. iv. 123. 21 Heary IV. %. Wi. 221. 
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