h, _tiercelet_; cf.
"Troilus and Cressida," iii. 2, "the falcon as the tercel."

Spenser, in his "Fairy Queen" (bk. iii. c. iv. l. 49), says:

"Having far off espied a tassel-gent
Which after her his nimble wings doth straine."

This species of hawk was also commonly called a "falcon-gentle," on
account of "her familiar, courteous disposition."[335]

[335] "Gentleman's Recreation," p. 19, quoted in Nares's
"Glossary," vol. ii. p. 867.

_Turkey._ This bird, so popular with us at Christmas-tide, is mentioned
in "1 Henry IV." (ii. 1), where the First Carrier says: "God's body! the
turkeys in my pannier are quite starved." This, however, is an
anachronism on the part of Shakespeare, as the turkey was unknown in
this country until the reign of Henry VIII. According to a rhyme written
in 1525, commemorating the introduction of this bird, we are told how:

"Turkies, carps, hoppes, piccarell, and beere,
Came into England all in one yeare."

The turkey is again mentioned by Shakespeare in "Twelfth Night" (ii. 5),
where Fabian says of Malvolio: "Contemplation makes a rare turkey-cock
of him: how he jets under his advanced plumes!"

_Vulture._ In several passages Shakespeare has most forcibly introduced
this bird to deepen the beauty of some of his exquisite passages. Thus,
in "King Lear" (ii. 4), when he is complaining of the unkindness of a
daughter, he bitterly exclaims:

"O Regan, she hath tied
Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture, here."

What, too, can be more graphic than the expression of Tamora in "Titus
Andronicus" (v. 2):

"I am Revenge, sent from the infernal kingdom,
To ease the gnawing vulture of thy mind."

Equally forcible, too, are Pistol's words in "The Merry Wives of
Windsor" (i. 3): "Let vultures gripe thy guts."

Johnson considers that "the vulture of sedition" in "2 Henry VI." (iv.
3) is in allusion to the tale of Prometheus, but of this there is a
decided uncertainty.

_Wagtail._ In "King Lear" (ii. 2), Kent says, "Spare my grey beard, you
wagtail?" the word being used in an opprobrious sense, to signify an
officious person.

_Woodcock._ In several passages this bird is used to denote a fool or
silly person; as in "Taming of the Shrew" (i. 2): "O this woodcock! what
an ass it is!" And again, in "Much Ado About Nothing" (v. 1), where
Claudio, alluding to the plot against Benedick, says: "Shall I not find
a woodcock too?" I