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A Hawk from a Handsaw
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: A Hawk from a Handsaw
- From: mjwestphal <mjwestphal@unca.edu>
- Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2003 18:27:08 -0500
- Delivered-to: pardo@metalab.unc.edu
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
Rob and Helmut are correct. The quote is from Hamlet, Act II, Scene II,
Hamlet speaking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about his "uncle-father and
aunt-mother" when he said "I am but mad north-northwest when the wind is
southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw."
I didn't know about the "handsaw" being an old term for a heron. That makes
sense. I first heard this expression in a birding sense on the videotape "The
Birding Game." I bought this tape for my birding brother about ten years ago
and have never seen it since until recently when I found someone else who had
it who also purchased it about ten years ago. Has anyone seen it sold
anywhere more recently? It's quite a lot of fun.
Marilyn
Marilyn Westphal
Environmental Quality Institute
University of North Carolina-Asheville
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804
828/251-6823
mjwestphal@unca.edu