NOTES BY THE WAY 171 



The lapwing is a kind of plover, and is very swift 

 of foot. When trying to avoid being seen they 

 run rapidly with depressed heads, or "close by the 

 ground," as the poet puts it. In the same scene, 

 Hero says of Ursula : 



" I know her spirits are as coy and wild 

 As haggards of the rock." 



The haggard falcon is a species of hawk found in 

 North Wales and in Scotland. It breeds on high 

 shelving cliffs and precipitous rocks. Had Shake- 

 speare been an "amateur poacher" in his youth? 

 He had a poacher's knowledge of the wild creatures. 

 He knew how fresh the snake appears after it has 

 cast its skin ; how the hedgehog makes himself up 

 into a ball and leaves his " prickles " in whatever 

 touches him ; hew the butterfly comes from the grub ; 

 how the fox carries the goose; where the squirrel 

 hides his store; where the martlet builds its nest, 

 etc. 



" Now is the woodcock near the gin," 



says Fabian, in "Twelfth Night," and 



" Stalk on, stalk on; the fowl sits," 

 says Claudia to Leonato, in "Much Ado." 



" Instruct thee how 

 To snare the nimble marmozet," 



says Caliban, in "The Tempest." Sings the fool 

 in "Lear: " 



" The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long 

 That it 's had it head bit off by it young." 



The hedge-sparrow is one of the favorite birds upon 



