The Zoologist — Octobee, 1866. 421 



" It was the lark, ihe herald of the morn." 



Romeo and Juliet, Act iii. Scene 5. 



" I do hear the morningr lark." 



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



" The morning lark " occurs again in ' Taming of the Shrew.' 



" The lark that lirra-lirra chaunts." 



Winter's Tale, Act iv. Scene 2. 



" Hark, hark, the lark at heaven's gate sings." 



Cymbeline, Act ii. Scene 3. 



So Milton, in * Paradise Lost,' Book v., 



* * * "Ye birds 

 That singing, up to heaverCs gate ascend.'' 



The Dauphin, speaking of his horse, sajs, 



" The man hath no wit that cannot, from the rising of the lark to the lodging of 

 the lamb, vary deserved praise on my palfrey."— //enry F., Act iii. Scene 7. 



We thus find frequent allusions to the early rising of the lark. 



* * * " The busy day, 

 Wak'd by the lark, hath rous'd the ribald crows." 



Troilus and Cressida, Act iv. Scene 2. 



Juliet. " It is the lark that sings so out of tune, 



Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps. 

 Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes; 

 O now I would they had changed voices too, 

 Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray." 



Romeo and Juliet, Act iii. Scene 5. 



The lark has ugly eyes and the toad very fine ones ; hence arose a 

 common saying that the lark and toad had changed eyes. 



Poor Juliet wishes they had changed voices too, because, as Heath 

 suggests, the croak of the toad would have been no indication of the 

 day's approach, and consequently no signal for Romeo's departure. 



" Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle Norfolk." 



Richard III., Act v. Scene 3. 



" When shepherds pipe on oaten straws, 

 And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks." 



Song, Love's Labour Lost. 



