FALCONIDA. g 
moustache, only darker, extends from the base of 
the bill part way down each side of the throat; the 
throat itself and the upper part of the breast white, 
with a few longitudinal dark streaks; all the under 
parts dirty white, transversely barred with dark 
rusty; legs and feet yellow. 
The eggs are mottled all over with reddish brown 
on a paler ground, but they differ both in size and 
colour, Hewitson says, according to the age of the 
bird. 
Hoprpy, Falco subbuteo. The Hobby, which is a 
migratory species, arriving in April and departing in 
October, is a very rare bird in these parts; at least 
I have never seen one about here alive, or been able 
to obtain a specimen in the flesh, nor have I ever 
noticed it hung up in the gamekeepers’ larders 
amongst the rest of what they call ‘‘ feathered ver- 
min,’ though I never pass such a place without a 
close scrutiny. It does, however, occasionally occur, 
as appears from the various stuffed specimens at 
different houses in the neighbourhood, and a great 
number of skins left by Mrs. Turle, the birdstuffer 
at ‘Taunton, all of which she had probably obtained 
from neighbouring gamekeepers. 
The food of the Hobby consists mostly of small 
birds, such as Larks, Swallows and Martins, and 
even Swifts: it also takes Quails, young Partridges, 
Sandpipers and Plovers: insects, such as cock- 
chaffers, also form part of its food; these it pursues 
