198 
The Animal-Lore of Shakspeare s Time. 
u there were an infinite company of birds, like unto stares, which 
came flying over Corke, a town in Ireland, which fought in so terrible 
a manner, as many thousands fell down dead into the town.” (Bep. 
Camden Soc., 1877.) 
This battle of starlings, which is mentioned by other 
historians, may haye been the result of a chance meeting 
of two migrating bodies of birds. 
The talking powers of the starling are referred to by 
Shakspeare:— 
“ I’ll have a starling shall be taught to speak 
Nothing but e Mortimer/ and give it him, 
To keep his anger still in motion.” 
(1 Henry IV., i. 8, 224.) 
So much has been written in praise of Larks by poets 
nark a S es > that there is little to note respect¬ 
ing this particular period of the bird’s history, 
except that it was probably less common than at present, 
owing to the increase, in modern times, in the number 
of well-drained fields and meadows. To the quotations 
from Shakspeare given by Mr. Harting, a few from other 
writers may be added. William Browne writes:— 
“ The mounting larke, daies lierauld, got on wing, 
Bidding each bird chuse out his bough and sing.” 
(. Britannia’s Pastorals , b. i. song 3.) 
Drayton:—• 
“ The lark that holds observance to the sun, 
Quavered her clear notes in the quiet air.” 
( The Legend of Bobert Duke of Normandy.) 
The beautiful lines of Lyly, to which Shakspeare may 
have been indebted 
Who is’t now we heare ? 
None but the larke so shrill and cleare ; 
Now at heaven’s gate she claps her wings, 
The morne not waking till sliee sings.” 
( Campaspe, act v. soog.), 
