104 On the Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 
rapidity of the flight of the Hobby, which is said to be able to fly 
down even a swift. He was driving the express engine at the time, 
which, between Porton and Salisbury, runs at the rate of some forty 
miles an hour or more. While doing so he noticed a male Sparrow 
Hawk flying off with some small bird in his claws. This bird at 
the time was flying nearly parallel with the train, and keeping as 
near as possible level with it. While watching this bird he suddenly 
saw a small speck appear im the distance, which approached with 
amazing rapidity, and proved to be a Hobby giving chase to the 
Sparrow Hawk. This bird darted past the train almost as though 
it had been stationary, and quickly catching up the Sparrow Hawk, 
forced it to drop its prey, securing it, as it fell, by a kind of demi- 
volte in the air, and flying off with it in triumph. The chase was 
then reversed ; the unencumbered Sparrow Hawk endeavouring in 
turn to overtake its now loaded antagonist; but it was a case of 
* catch who can,” and the Sparrow Hawk had to go and search 
for another quarry. I have in my collection a fine male specimen 
of the Hobby, which came by its death in rather a peculiar manner. 
The butler of a house in this neighbourhood was standing in the 
garden, talking to the gamekeeper, late in the evening, when a little 
green paroquet—that was sitting on his shoulder, its favourite 
resting-place—began to make a very peculiar noise. “ Hallo,” eried 
the butler, “There must be a hawk somewhere near ; Tommy never 
makes that noise, except when he sees a hawk.” On looking up, 
sure enough there was a fine Hobby flying directly over their heads. 
The keeper did not attempt to fire, thinking the bird was too far 
out of shot; but the butler, snatching the gun out of his hand, let 
fly, and, by a snap shot, just broke the bird’s pmion—the shot being 
one of the longest the keeper had ever seen. A few years ago I 
was informed by a brother clergyman that this little Falcon used to 
breed in the parish of Poulshot near Devizes, and doubtless there 
are many other places in the county which can justly lay claim to 
be breeding places of the Hobby. 
Mr. Tyndall Powell, of Hurdcott House, near Salisbury, writes 
me word: “It is most amusing to watch the Sand Martens come to 
roost in a withy-bed close by us, in the months of September and 
