BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 175 



THE HOBBY 



(Faico subbuteo). 



The Hobby is also much the same size as the Kestrel, 

 but differs in many respects. The wings, for one thing, 

 are very long, and the flight is correspondingly swift. 

 The species is chiefly an uncommon summer visitor, 

 nesting sparingly in a few of the southern counties of 

 England. It has been recorded as nesting occasionally 

 in the north, and once in Perthshire. It lays in the 

 old nests of other tree-nesting species, and is a very late 

 breeder. The three to five eggs are commonly closely 

 mottled, with reddish brown on a yellowish ground. 



THE SPARROW-HAWK 



(Accipiter nisus). 



Plate 55. 



Still of course belonging to the Falcon family, but 

 more narrowly grouped as a ' Hawk ' (in the strictest 

 sense), is the Sparrow-Hawk, which is almost as familiar 

 and widespread as the Kestrel. Equally abundant in some 

 districts, it is very strictly kept down in many where 

 the Kestrel goes unmolested. And from a narrow, selfish 

 point of view this persecution is not without justification, 

 for the Sparrow-Hawk is a bold robber. Not only does 

 it prey on ordinary small birds of every description, but it 

 will frequently snatch a young Pheasant or Partridge, and 

 has no fear of making a sudden raid on a poultry-yard. 

 Birds the size of a Pigeon can be successfully dealt with, 

 and the Sparrow -Hawk was quite a favourite of the 



