HOBBY 



41 



the bird being slender, the tail elongated, and the points of 

 the wings reaching even beyond the tail. In this country 

 the Hobby is a summer visitor, appearing in April, and 

 leaving again generally in October for warmer regions, like 

 other summer visitors. Dr. Heysham, however, in his Ca- 

 talogue of Cumberland Animals, mentions having seen a 

 Hobby as late as November. 



Unlike the Peregrine, the Hobby appears to prefer inland 

 situations among wooded and well-cultivated districts, and 

 possessing considerable power of flight, as well as persevering 

 endurance, was formerly trained to fly at Larks, Quails, and 

 Snipes. Sir John 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. Colonel Montagu says, he has 

 " frequently witnessed the flight of this species in pursuit of 

 a Skylark, 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 pur- 

 suit 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 com- 

 pelled to make to avoid the talons of the Hobby : however, 

 after numberless evolutions, the Hen-Harrier relinquished 

 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 country was open, and as 

 far as the eye could discern, the chase continued, but doubt- 

 less without a chance of the Lark's avoiding the fatal blow." 

 The Hobby has been known to dash through the open win- 

 dow of a room at a small bird confined in a cage, and is 

 sometimes used by London bird-catchers to enable them by 

 its presence, and by exhibiting it in a particular way, to 



