The Ornithology of Shakespeare

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About this book

The Ornithology of Shakespeare, by James Edmund Harting, examines Shakespeare's knowledge of birds, a subject the preface says earlier commentators had not examined so far as the writer was aware. The preface describes the inquiry as having been undertaken in the first instance for the writer's own amusement. The contents list a chapter on birds under domestication, with subjects ranging from the ancestry of the domestic cock to the song and habits of the swan.

The discussion of birdlime describes the substance as made from holly bark, long used for catching small birds, and frequently mentioned by Shakespeare. The birdlime discussion quotes the trembling wings of a bird caught in a bush in Henry VI. Part III., and identifies Lucrece as containing a similar idea about birds and fear of bushes.

About the author

James Edmund Harting

James Edmund Harting was an English ornithologist, naturalist, editor, and writer whose publications addressed birds, field observation, and the history of British fauna. Hints on Shore Shooting offers practical guidance on identifying and pursuing coastal birds while recording the habitats and seasonal movements familiar to Victorian naturalists.