420 The Zoologist — October, 1866. 



into a swallow. Hence Philomel became a favourite poetical name 



for the nightingale. 



*• At your request ? (sarcastically) 

 Yes, nightingales answer daws.'' 



Twelfth Night, Act iii. Scene 4. 



To "sing like a nightingale" is a well-known expression, and we 

 find accordingly, in ' Taming of the Shrew,' (Act ii. Scene 1), 



" She sings as sweetly as any nightingale." 



In ' King Lear' (Act iii. Scene 6) Edgar tells us that 



" The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the shape of a nightingale.^' 



There is no doubt that one great charm in the song of the night- 

 ingale is that it is heard at evening, when nearly every other bird is 

 hushed and gone to roost. We are thus enabled to pay more attention 

 to it and hear the entire song. Probably, were this bird to sing by 

 day, we should regard it no more than the lark or thrush. 



Portia says, 



" And I think 



The nightingale, if she should sing by day, 



When every goose is cackling, would be thought 



No better a musician than the wren." 



Merchant of Venice, Act v. Scene 1. 



Wagtail {MoiaciUa Yarrellii). 



I can find but one allusion to this bird throughout the whole of the 

 Plays. 



Used as an epithet the word " wagtail" would denote a pert flippant 

 fellow. 



Kent, in ' King Lear ' (Act ii. Scene 2), says, 



" Spare my grey beard, you wagtail .'" 

 Skylark {Alauda arvensis). 



Midsummer Night's Dream, Act iii. Scene 1. 



The nightingale has not more happily inspired our early poets than 

 the lark. Chaucer, Spenser, and, later on, Millon, have all sung the 

 praises of this famed songster. 



With your theme 

 I could o'ermount ihe lark." 



Henry VIII., Act ii. Scene 3. 



