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Distribution. — Northern Europe and 

 Asia. Ifc is a summer visitant in the 

 Yangtse Valley. 



Nest and Eggs. — The Hobby usually 

 builds its nest high up in trees, fre- 

 quently making use of the deserted 

 nests of other birds such as the crows 

 or magpies. 



There are generally three or four 

 eggs in a clutch. They have a reddish- 

 white or white ground color which is 

 80 thickly blotched, speckled or stip- 

 pled over with shades of red as to 

 entirely hide the ground color. 



Notes. — It is a very courageous bird 

 and will attack the kite or any other 

 birds that may come about its nest 

 during the breeding season. Its food 

 consists largely of dragon-flies, beetles, 

 etc., and also the smaller birds such as 

 sparrows, buntings, larks, and other 

 small birds. 



MEKLIN. 



FALCO AESALON TUENSTALL. 



(Falco regulus Pall.) 

 (Aesalon regulus Turnst.) 



Description. — Length about ten and 

 one half inches. Bill bluish. Cere and 

 legs yellow. Iris brown. 



Wing does not reach the end of 

 the tail. Two outer wing quills with 

 inner webs emarginate near the 

 tip. Neck yellowish red, encircled 

 with brownish ring, spotted. To 

 be recognized by its small size, blue 

 grey color of its upper parts, every 

 feather of its head and back being 

 marked with brown in the center. 



Chin and throat white, or greyish, 

 washed with yellow, spotted with 

 brown. Breast dull reddish, sometimes 



