66 FALCONID^. 



Unlike the Peregrine Falcon, the Hobby appears to prefer 

 inland situations among wooded and well-cultivated districts, 

 and possessing considerable power of flight, as well as 

 persevering endurance, can be trained to fly at Larks, 

 Quails, and Snipes. Sebright says the Hobby will take 

 small birds if thrown up by the hand, but is not strong 

 enough to be efficient in the field. Montagu says he has 

 " frequently witnessed the flight of this species in pursuit 

 of a Sky-lark, which appears to be its favourite game ; and 

 it is astonishing to observe how dexterously the little bird 

 avoids the fatal stroke until it becomes fatigued. A Hobby 

 in pursuit of a Lark was joined by a Hen-Harrier, who not 

 being so rapid on wing, was usually behind, and ready to 

 avail himself of the sudden turns the unfortunate Lark was 

 compelled to make to avoid the talons of the Hobby ; how- 

 ever, after numberless evolutions, the Hen-Harrier relin- 

 quished further pursuit, being unequal to the chase, and left 

 the deadly stroke to one better adapted for rapid and durable 

 flight, and aerial evolutions." The Hobby has been known 

 to dash through the open window of a room at a small bird 

 confined in a cage, and is sometimes used by bird catchers 

 to enable them by its presence, and by exhibiting it in a 

 particular way, called " daring," to catch Sky-larks. 



The Hobby, though a well-known bird, is not very nume- 

 rous as a species. It chooses a high tree to make its nest 

 on, occasionally taking to the remains of one of suitable 

 size that has been deserted. The female lays three or four 

 eggs, in colour much resembling those of the Iceland Falcon 

 before described, and measuring from 1*72 to 1*5 by 1*32 to 

 1-21 in. 



The localities to be quoted for the Hobby, shew that its 

 distribution in England is somewhat like that of the Nightin- 

 gale, though its habits lead it to take a wider range, and to 

 disregard such very strict observance of limits. In Ireland 

 there seems to be but two instances of its occurrence that can be 

 trusted, one recorded by Thompson, and a second about three 

 years since in Tipperary, the specimen being in the Museum 

 of the Koyal Dublin Society. It certainly does not breed in 



