314 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



Very close to these are several beautiful species ivhich are similarly grouped to- 

 gether under the sul>gencric title Ili/potriorchU, and of wliidi the English hobby, 

 F. subhitteo, is the smallest member. This is an elegantly slia|)ed bird of incons])icnous 

 colors, not distantly resembling a boldly marked, immature jieregriiie, readily recog- 

 nized by its (for a falcon) extremely long wings. It lias a wide distribution in the old 

 world, being found almost everywhere in Europe, Asia, and Africa. While it fre- 



m 



^^.^^^ 



^ 



i1 



.,!■ 



Flii. W'J. — J'\itro subbuteo^ hobby. 



quently captures birds of considerable size, and has even a superabundance of courage 

 and wing-])ower, a favorite food while in England is large insects, especially beetles 

 and dragon-rties, which it catches on the wing, often limiting tlie beetles in the even- 

 ing until it is (ptite dark. 



It is unquestionably one of the swiftest of the falcons, ilolighting to chase and 

 capture swallows, and frequently .striking at and annoying large bird.s, such as herons 

 and cranes, which it evidently has no thought of attempting to kill. According to 



