62 The Oologists Record, September i, 1922. 



are admirably exact, although in many of them the Hobby is very 

 rare as a breeding species and does not increase. 



It is somewhat" curious that in many instances where there are 

 wide tracts of suitable country actually bordering on " inhabited " 

 areas, one so seldom finds a nest outside a certain limit. There are 

 also districts where such suitable country abounds for miles, and 

 where the Carrion Crow breeds unmolested, but where no Hobby 

 exists, or for that matter (as far at least as one can reasonably 

 ascertain) ever has existed. 



The Hobby is one of the last of our migratory birds to arrive, 

 seldom reaching us much before the middle or even the end of May. 

 It is generally reputed to leave in September, but I have on many 

 occasions seen it in October and even November (possibly birds of 

 the year), whilst it has been reported in January, so that I have no 

 doubt odd birds remain with us throughout the winter. 



I have found that newly-arrived birds do not always go direct 

 to their breeding haunt, but often a pair will take up a temporary 

 residence in a wood some distance off ; here they will remain until 

 a day or two before the actual nesting. For this reason their sudden 

 disappearance is sometimes an unconscious cause of safety, the nesting 

 site being perhaps three or four miles away. 



It is during this transition period between arrival and nesting 

 that the Hobbies may be seen at their best ; after the eggs are laid 

 they become much more cautious, except in rare individual cases. 

 They are not unreasonably shy, and ma}^ be seen sweeping and 

 diving through the air, sometimes at an immense height, chasing 

 one another playfully and- occasionally uttering the rather weak. 

 Wryneck-like cry. The long sickle-wings, comparatively short tail, 

 and " high " shoulders (which gave to the species the old name of 

 " gibbosus," or hunchbacked), are an eas}' mark for the skilled 

 observer. And i-f the sun be shining, the white cheeks, jet " mous- 

 tache,", and blue-black back can be discerned at a considerable 

 distance. When in search of prey close to the ground, the flight 

 and motion of the wings are curiously " swinging." 



Although a great proportion of the food consists of dragon-flies 

 and the larger beetles and moths, the Hobby is a terror to the Sky- 

 lark, which it captures with extraordinary skill and velocity. There 

 is no chase as with the Sparrow Hawk or Merlin — one or two swift 

 stoops, a slight turn upwards, and a " click " which can almost be - 

 heard ! 



