70 THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS. 



Mr. R. B. Sharpe told me of a fine male of this 

 species which gwas killed at Cliefden in i860, and 

 which is now in the collection of Mrs. De Vitre, at 

 Formosa ; and he has occasionally observed one 

 sailing over the woods in the neighbourhood of 

 Cookham. The same gentleman records the fol- 

 lowing striking instance of this bird's courage, which 

 came under the notice of Mr. Briggs, the head 

 gardener at Formosa : — 



This accurate observer of the habits of the feathered 

 tribe had discovered a nest of this species in a planta- 

 tion at Billing Bare, which is some ten miles from 

 Cookham. He was merely waiting till the young 

 Falcons were fully fledged before he took them. One 

 day he climbed up to the nest, and was forthwith 

 saluted with loud outcries from the young birds. 

 The male Hobby, on hearing the screams of the 

 nestlings, sailed over the woods to the spot, and 

 calmly contemplated the scene of action from a 

 considerable altitude. Having completed his survey, 

 as Mr. Briggs was beginning to descend with his 

 captives, the bird shot down from above with great 

 velocity, his strong wings cleaving the air with a 

 loud noise, and dashed within a foot of the intruder's 

 head ; being carried up by the impetus of his descent, 

 he remounted into the air as swiftly as he had 

 stooped, and only paused a second before recom- 

 mencing the attack. This was renewed in quick 

 succession as Mr. Briggs descended, and he was in 



