350 HOBBY. 



far north as the Arctic circle in Lapland, while in Russia it is found 

 throughout the wooded districts from 65° N. lat. down to the mouth 

 of the Volga ; but in no part of the Continent does it remain during 

 the cold season. From Scandinavia southward it is generally 

 distributed over Europe to the Mediterranean, though most 

 numerous from Bulgaria eastward ; it nests in the pine-woods in the 

 extreme south of Spain, and visits the Canaries, Morocco, Algeria 

 and Egypt, though rare in the last. Eastward from Asia Minor we 

 trace it in summer across the wooded portions of Siberia to Kam- 

 chatka, and southward to Kashmir ; while in winter it occurs in 

 China, and in India down to Belgaum. In Africa it ranges as far 

 south as Cape Colony. Its representative in the Indian region is 

 7^ severus, while in South Africa it is K cuvieri. 



The Hobby is a very late breeder, seldom having eggs before the 

 early part of June, and often not till the end of that month. It 

 does not make a nest for itself, but adds slightly to one built in 

 a tree by a Crow, Magpie, or other bird. The eggs, usually 3 in 

 England, but up to 5 in number on the Continent, are often 

 yellowish-white, closely freckled w'ith rufous, and can then be easily 

 distinguished from those of the Kestrel ; but sometimes they are 

 suffused with reddish-brown and are therefore not so recognizable : 

 measurements i"6 by i'2 5 in. Previous to laying, the female is said 

 to sometimes brood on an empty nest or upon eggs of the Kestrel. 

 I have known a Hobby, taken as a nestling in 1849, which lived 

 for fifteen years. Dragonflies, cabbage-butterflies, cockchafers and 

 other insects, form its principal prey in summer ; but it also takes 

 birds, especially Starlings ; while it has been known to catch Swifts, 

 and is the terror of Swallows and Martins. Larks are especially 

 subject to its harassing attacks in autumn, when it leaves the wood- 

 lands and frequents the more open country ; it will also accompany 

 sportsmen and seize Quails in front of them. 



The adult has the upper parts slate-grey, nearly black on the 

 head, with a black moustache-like streak and slightly rufous nape ; 

 cheeks and throat white ; under parts buftish-white, broadly striped 

 with black ; vent and thighs rust-red ; cere, orbits and legs yellow, 

 iris dark brown. The sexes are alike in plumage, but the female 

 is larger, though less vivid in colour. Length: male 12 in., wing 

 10 in.; female 14 in., wing 11-25 '"• The young bird has the 

 crown of the head mottled with buff, and a decided tinge of that 

 colour on the cheeks and under parts ; upper feathers brown, 

 edged with ochreous-white ; tail with a broad pale tip ; vent and 

 thighs only pale rufous. 



