In the Neighbourhood of Salisbury. 103 
say that it is not uncommon, I might well-nigh say frequent, in the im- 
mediate neighbourhood of Salisbury. I myself generally notice it in 
my own parish of Britford more than once during the summer (and it 
* cannot easily be mistaken for any other kind of hawk, on account of 
its remarkable length of wing, and slender figure), and a few years 
ago I remember a fine specimen being shot by Mr. Jervoise’s keeper, 
in the water meadows,when he was out duck-shooting in the evening. 
Mr. Hart also writes me word from Christchurch, “ Merlin and 
Hobby killed frequently.” It is by no means uncommon in the New 
Forest, which is on the very borders of our own county, and breeds 
there annually, and I have had the young birds offered me for sale 
from thence. But one reason which perhaps causes it to be less 
frequently noticed than other hawks, is its habit of keeping very 
late hours, which often causes it to remain on the wing almost, as 
we say, in “ owl-light.” But I would remark here in passing, that 
this little bird is always on legitimate business, and sets a good 
example in his parish by making active use of every scrap of time 
he can procure. I gained some interesting facts concerning the 
occurrence of this species in our own immediate district from Mr. 
Norwood, of the South Western Railway, himself a neat stuffer, and 
an enthusiastic ornithologist. In the course of the summer of 1866 
he had no less than four Hobbies, all male birds, brought in to him, 
which had been killed or injured by the telegraph wires, between 
Salisbury and Porton, a distance of some seven miles. Two of these 
he received in the same week. One of the four was only injured on 
the pinion, and was kept alive afterwards for some years. There was 
at the time I mention only one wire up, in which case it would seem 
_ toprove much more deadly to birds than when there are many. Partly 
___ perhaps because then it is generally a new thing to them, and they are 
not on the look out for the danger, and partly because the one is not 
so easily visible as the many. And in the present year Mr. Norwood 
tells me that he has just had a fine hen bird brought to him, also 
_ killed in the same way, and at the same place—and here I would 
notice how this singular fatality would corroborate the fact, if any 
&. proof were wanting, of the late-flying propensities of this bird. 
Mr. Norwood also told me an interesting instance of the extreme 
