282 The Animal-Lore of Shakspeare’s Time. 
The great crested grebe is probably here meant by the 
loon. When Macbeth exclaims to the terrified soldier— 
“ The Devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon ! ” 
(Act v. 3,11), 
lie probably used the word as a synonym for a coward, 
but the epithet “ cream-faced” was well chosen, as the white 
cheeks of the grebe form a noticeable contrast to the 
darker portions of its head. 
It is probable that the larger kinds of birds frequent- 
^ ing the rocks of the sea-coast were vaguely 
classed as Gulls without any attempt to 
discriminate between the different varieties. The word 
gull was frequently employed to denote a dupe or a 
simpleton, and Sir John Davis well defines the meaning 
of the name as used by old writers in its metaphorical 
sense :— 
“ Oft iii my laughing rimes I name a gull. 
But this new terme will many questions breede, 
Therefore at first I will express at full 
Who is a true and perfect gull indeede : 
A gull is he which fears a velvet gowne, 
And when a wench is brave, dares not speak to her: 
A gull is he which traverses the towne, 
And is for marriage known a common wooer. 
A gull is he which while he proudly weares 
A silver liilted rapier by his side, 
Indures the lyes, and knocks about the eares. 
While in his sheath his sleeping sword doth bide: 
A gull is he which weares good hansome cloathes, 
And stands in presence stroaking up his hayre. 
And fills up his imperfect speech with oathes, 
But speaks not one wise word throughout the yeare, 
But, to define a gull in termes precise, 
A gull is he which seems, and is not, wise.” 
(Epigrams, ii.) 
The word gull was also used for a nestling, or un¬ 
fledged bird of any kind. So Worcester speaks of “that 
