354 



The Zoologist — September, 1866. 



metaphors.* Take, for example, the passage which occurs in 'Othello' 

 (Act iii. Sc. 3), where the Moor compares his suspected wife to a 

 "haggard falcon," f 



From the following list it will be seen that no less than forty-three 

 species of birds are mentioned or alluded to by Shakespeare. In 

 some instances the references are very numerous, and although it has 

 been our endeavour as much as possible to connect them, and so 

 make our notes less disjointed, it has been found oftentimes imprac- 

 ticable from their nature to accomplish this. 



Turtle Dove 



Pheasant 



Partridge 



Quail 



Lapwing 



Heron 



Woodcock 



Snipe 



Goose 



Swan 



Duck 



Cormorant 



Gull 



Vulture [VtiUur fulrus, Linn.) 



Only five allusions to this bird are to be found throughout the 

 plays, and in none of them is the particular species determined. 



" Lei vultures vile seize on his lungs also !" 



Henri/ IV. Part L Act v. Scene 4. 



"Thus, while the vulture of sedition 

 Feeds in the bosom of such great commanders, 

 Sleeping negleclion doih betray," &c. 



Henry VI. Part I. Act iv. Scene 3. 



" There cannot be 

 That vulture in you to devour so many." 



Macbeth, Act iv. Scene 3. 



* " However much black-letter books may be necessary to elucidate some parts of 

 Shakespciire's works, there are other parts which require some acquaintance with the 

 pages of the Book of Nature." (Pye's Comments, &c., 1807). 



t This passage will be found commented upon under the title " Falcon." 



