FALCONIDjE. 71 



no ordinary fear lest the hawk should dash at his 

 face. He, however, reached terra firina without 

 mishap, and wishing to obtain the old bird, carried 

 the young into a neighbouring field, where he made 

 them recommence their pitiful cries in order to entice 

 the parent to the place. This plan was perfectly 

 successful, and at the second swoop the fatal charge 

 stretched the devoted bird ' lifeless on the sward.' 

 His first descent was so sudden and unexpected that 

 Mr. Briggs had no time to fire, although he stood 

 ready with his gun, but the second swoop was the 

 last the poor Hobby ever made. 



Hobbies are occasionally observed soaring above 

 the trees in Langley Park. Late in the spring of 

 1866, a beautiful male of this species was killed in 

 the woods near Virginia Water, and was brought to 

 Windsor to be preserved. This hawk has also 

 occurred near Chesham. It was a far commoner 

 species thirty years ago, and used to be found in 

 some numbers in all parts of the two counties. 



