SUMMER VISITORS. 



^)&^ 



Order L— RAPT ORES. 

 Family — pALCONlD.^i. 



Hobby {Falco stibbuteo). This miniature Peregrine 

 is a regular summer visitor, but never occurs in great 

 numbers. It reaches us about the middle of April 

 and leaves again for warmer climes in October. 

 Whenever one of these birds are seen it is certain 

 to be pursued and, if possible, killed by some ardent 

 gamekeeper ; or should it, perchance, be fortunate 

 enough to escape his clutches, some collector will 

 use his best means to procure it for a specimen. 



A pair of these Falcons built their nest in a 

 wood not far from Datchet in the summer of 1861. 

 Although the old birds escaped molestation, four 

 young ones were shot, at Thorney, almost as soon as 

 they had learnt to fly. I saw two of these at 

 Datchet, in the collection of Mr. Ferryman, to 

 whom they had been presented. 



