10 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
until late in the evening and takes on the wing. 
Although Partridges are mentioned, the Hobby does 
not seem to be a great enemy of the gamekeeper, 
as it usually contents itself with much smaller 
prey. 
The Hobby does not seem to trouble itself much 
about building a nest for itself, usually taking pos- 
session of that of a Crow or Magpie, especially if 
placed near the top of a high tree :* it has also been 
known to place its nest on the projecting ledge of a 
rock. 
The Hobby is something like a miniature Pere- 
grine, the general colouring being much the same, 
and it also having the same conspicuous moustache. 
The beak is blue; cere yellow; head, neck, part 
under the eye and ear-coverts dark dusky blue, each 
feather having a darker line in its centre; a mous- 
tache extends from the base of the bill, the same as 
in the Peregrine; throat white; a sort of greyish 
white collar extends part of the way round the back 
of the neck, all the rest of the upper parts dark 
Slate-grey; quills and tail dusky; breast and belly 
white, longitudinally streaked with broad streaks of 
dusky; elongated feathers on the thighs and under 
tail-coverts light rusty orange, with some dark 
streaks, which the very old bird is said to lose; 
under side of the tail light grey, barred with a 
* Hewitson. 
a 
