The Ornithology of Shakespeare / Critically examined, explained and illustrated

The author compiles and analyzes every avian reference scattered through the plays and poems, assessing likely species, habits, and the author's practical knowledge of natural history and field sports. Passages are organized into chapters treating natural groups — including native, foreign, and domesticated birds — accompanied by explanatory notes, illustrations, and an appendix arranging all quotations. The work compares earlier brief treatments, discusses portraiture when relevant to falconry and natural observation, and aims to render the poet’s ornithological allusions clear, corrected, and accessible to general readers.