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 liaggards 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 appeared after it had 

 cast its skin ; how the hedgehog makes himself up 

 into a ball and leaves his " prickles " in whatever 

 touches him ; how the butterfly came 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 Claudio 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 



