THE ZOOLOGIST
THIRD SERIES.
Vol. II.] APRIL, 1878. [No. 16. |
THE MAMMALS OF SHAKSPEARE.
By Henry Reeks, F.L.S., F.Z.S.
Owing chiefly to a perusal of the interesting articles on "The Birds of Shakspeare," which appeared many years ago in 'The Zoologist,' and which have since been reprinted in a separate form with numerous additions,[1] I have been induced to go carefully through the voluminous writings of that "myriadminded man," as Coleridge aptly terms the Bard of Avon, in search of what I felt sure of finding, viz., numerous references to animals—true feræ naturæ.
Domestic animals are repeatedly alluded to by Shakspeare; but in the following pages I have not thought it necessary to make any extracts relating to them.
Many animals are mentioned the species of which it is impossible to identify; and a few—especially among the numerous and widelyspread families of Monkeys—cannot be referred with certainty even to a particular genus.
I have not the benefit of libraries at hand for reference, still I trust Ihe following remarks, from purely Shakspearian associations, may prove interesting to at least some of the readers of 'The Zoologist.'
It is only fair to state that Mr. Harting, in the "Introduction to his more extended work on the 'Ornithology of Shakspeare,' mentions many of the animals—in fact, nearly all the British
- ↑ 'The Ornithology of Shakespeare: Critically Examined, Explained and Illustrated.' By J.E. Harting. London: Van Voorst. 1871.
