Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/193

Rh The belief that the Mole is unable to see is wide-spread and ancient. Autolycus, in A Winter's Tale (Act iv., Scene 3), says—

"I will bring these two Moles, these blind ones, aboard him."

As may be supposed such a poet and naturalist as Shakspeare has not failed to pay due respect to the "king of beasts," and to avail himself, in his descriptions, of the many attributes of the noble animal. The Lion is mentioned by him upwards of a hundred and twenty times, or about twice as often as any other animal. In the limited space at disposal it would of course be impossible, even if it were desirable, to quote half of them; but a few of the more notable instances may be given as specimens. He has well pictured the

and the attitude of the Lionness that

The animal's terrific roar is often referred to:—

The question which Shakspeare puts into the mouth of Petrucio —

he could probably have answered himself in the affirmative, leaving it to be inferred that the roar proceeded from behind the strong iron bars of some showman's cage.

Readers of the plays will well remember the humourous allusions to the Lion in Midsummer Night's Dream, in the amusing comedy