THE KESTREL. 73 



In Henfy V. (Act iii. Sc. 7), the Dauphin, when speak- 

 ing in praise of his horse, says, — 



" When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk." 



And in the first part of Henry VI. (Act ii. Sc. 4), the 

 Earl of Warwick boasts that 



'' Between two hawks, which flies the higher pitch ; 



I have perhaps some shallow spirit of judgment." 



Again — 



" Twenty crowns ! 



I '11 venture so much of my hawk or hound, 



But twenty times so much upon my wife." 



Taming of the Shrew, Act v. Sc. 2. 



In two instances only does Shakespeare allude to a 

 particular species of hawk. These are the Kestrel and 

 Sparrowhawk. 



When Malvolio, in " Twelfth Night (Act ii. Sc. 5), finds 

 the letter which Maria has purposely dropt in his path, 

 Sir Toby Belch, looking on from ambush, exclaims, in 

 sporting terms : — 



" And with what wing the stanniel checks at it ! " 



Here stanniel is a corruption of standgale, a name for 

 the kestrel hawk, and Malvolio is said to " check at " the 

 letter, just as a kestrel hovers over a mouse or other 

 object which has suddenly attracted its attention. 



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