FALCONID.^-:. 



337 



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THE HOBBY. 



Falco subkuteo, LinnKus. 



The Hobby belongs to a group of Falcons {Hypoiriorchis of many 

 authors) characterized by remarkably long wings, comparatively short 

 tail, and soft plumage. It is a regular summer-visitor to the north 

 of Europe, arriving in England in small numbers about the latter 

 half of May : and at irregular intervals it has been found breeding 

 in most of the southern counties, especially in Hampshire ; at one 

 time with tolerable regularity in Essex ; less frequently in Cam- 

 bridgeshire and Suffolk ; not uncommonly in Norfolk and Lincoln- 

 shire ; occasionally in the midlands, and exceptionally in Yorkshire ; 

 while in Cornwall, Wales, and the west it is scarce. In Scotland it is 

 rare and has never been known to nest, though on migration it has 

 been taken as far north as Caithness and Sutherland. In Ireland 

 six examples have been obtained, five of them in May or June. 



The Hobby has been recorded as far north as the Arctic circle 

 in Lapland, and in Russia it is found throughout the wooded 

 districts from 65° N. lat. down to the mouth of the Volga ; but 

 in no part of the Continent does it remain during the cold season. 



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