Worksop Bestiary
ca. 1185
England, possibly in Lincoln or York
215 x 155 mm
MS M.81, fols. 53v–54r
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913) in 1902
Catalog link
Hawk and Magpies (left)
The hawk in this green and gold medallion is described as a stern parent who forces its chicks to hunt from an early age. Below, a pair of magpies known for their “rude prating” extend their tails into the text and margin.
Nightingale (right)
The multi-colored nightingale warms her eggs in a medallion suggestive of a moon or glowing dawn, evoking the time when the nocturnal bird sings its sweet song.