HARE
Mammals, Hare, Hunting Seona Anderson Mammals, Hare, Hunting Seona Anderson

HARE

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, HARE: O, the blood more stirs to rouse a lion than to start a hare! Hares acted Shakespeare’s metaphor for cowardice and stupidity. Mountain hares have been classified as Near Threatened.

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BIRCH
Trees, Birch Seona Anderson Trees, Birch Seona Anderson

BIRCH

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, BIRCH: having bound up the threat’ning twigs of birch only to stick it in their children’s sight for terror not to use. The Birch has a wide range of uses other than punishment.

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ANT/PISMIRE
Insects, Ant, Pismire Seona Anderson Insects, Ant, Pismire Seona Anderson

ANT/PISMIRE

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, ANT: We’ll set thee to school to an ant to learn that there’s no labouring i’ th’ winter. Ants were considered examples of ‘good’ insects whose organisational and social structures were considered instructional for human society.

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SALAMANDER
Amphibians, Salamander Seona Anderson Amphibians, Salamander Seona Anderson

SALAMANDER

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, SALAMANDER: I have maintained that salamander of yours with fire any time this two-and-thirty years. Salamanders have been associated with fire since antiquity. Fire Salamanders are now considered Vulnerable to Extinction.

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HYSSOP
Plants, Hyssop, Herbs Seona Anderson Plants, Hyssop, Herbs Seona Anderson

HYSSOP

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, HYSSOP: our bodies are gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners…set hyssop or weed up thyme. Hyssop was formerly so well known that it needed no description but it is less commonly used as a herb now.

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CORMORANT
Birds, Cormorant Seona Anderson Birds, Cormorant Seona Anderson

CORMORANT

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, CORMORANT: Light vanity, insatiate cormorant, consuming means, soon preys upon itself. Cormorants are aquatic birds well known for their fishing abilities and their wing drying poses.

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OTTER
Mammals, Otter Seona Anderson Mammals, Otter Seona Anderson

OTTER

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, OTTER: What beast? Why, an otter… She’s neither fish nor flesh. Otters declined drastically in the 1950s & 60s but numbers are slowly increasing.

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LAPWING
Birds, Lapwing Seona Anderson Birds, Lapwing Seona Anderson

LAPWING

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, LAPWING: for look, where Beatrice, like a lapwing runs close by the ground, to hear our conference. The beautiful Lapwing was a rich Shakespearean metaphor, but they are now declining and vulnerable.

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TORTOISE
Reptiles, Tortoise, Threatened Seona Anderson Reptiles, Tortoise, Threatened Seona Anderson

TORTOISE

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, TORTOISE: Come forth, I say, there’s other business for thee. Come, thou tortoise. Tortoises famous for their slowness have a rich cultural heritage in many cultures. Common Tortoises are Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List.

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PRIMROSE
Flowers, Spring, Primrose Seona Anderson Flowers, Spring, Primrose Seona Anderson

PRIMROSE

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, PRIMROSE: himself the primrose path of dalliance treads and recks not his own rede. The Primrose is a symbol of spring, beauty but in this quote of liberal excess.

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DOLPHIN
Sea Mammal, Dolphin Seona Anderson Sea Mammal, Dolphin Seona Anderson

DOLPHIN

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, DOLPHIN: His delights were dolphin-like; they showed his back above the element they lived in. Dolphins are protected species in the UK.

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BEECH
Trees, Beech Seona Anderson Trees, Beech Seona Anderson

BEECH

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, BEECH: And a broad beech, thereby hangs a tale - heigh ho! The majestic beech provides habitat and food for a wide range of wildlife.

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GUDGEON
FISH, Gudgeon, Freshwater Seona Anderson FISH, Gudgeon, Freshwater Seona Anderson

GUDGEON

Shakespeare Specie Quote of the Day, GUDGEON: But fish not with this melancholy bait, for this fool gudgeon, this opinion. The Gudgeon is a small, freshwater fish of rivers, streams and canals.

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BALM
Plant, Balm, Medicine Seona Anderson Plant, Balm, Medicine Seona Anderson

BALM

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, BALM: innocent sleep, sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care…balm of hurt minds. Balm was grown widely in Shakespearean England as a medicinal plant.

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WILD BOAR
Mammal, Wild Boar Seona Anderson Mammal, Wild Boar Seona Anderson

WILD BOAR

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, WILD BOAR: A gallant curtal-ax upon my thigh, a boar-spear in my hand. Wild Boar became extinct in Britain but have now re-established through escapes and releases.

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