142 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



and dashing in its flight. At the same time it appears to be remark- 

 a.h]y sagacious and inteUigent, and when brought up from the nest, 

 becomes very tame and docile, though it rarely lives long in captivity. 

 Mr. Howard Saunders, however, mentions an exception to the rule, 

 in the case of a bird taken as a nestling, which lived in confinement 

 for fifteen years (Man. Brit. Birds, p. 388). 



Owing to its agility, and the rapidity of its flight, the Hobby used 

 once to be employed by the Arabs in the pursuit of small game, but 

 it seems never to have been very highly prized by them, or considered 

 in any way equal to the larger Falcons used for Falconry. 



In Europe the Hobby used also to be trained to hunt Larks and 

 other small birds, and in several countries it goes by the name of the 

 Lark-Falcon. It preys chiefly on small birds, which it seizes on the 

 wing, and according to some observers, occasionally captures even 

 Swifts and Swallows. Its usual prey, however, is no doubt the Lark, 

 or some other less swiftly-flying species. 



Larger birds are often pursued and harried by this active little 

 Falcon, but this is no doubt out of a spirit of mischief or in sport. 

 In addition to small birds, the Hobby feeds upon insects of various 

 kinds, and in Tunisia locusts enter largely into its diet. 



In its nesting-habits the Hobby resembles some other species 

 of Eaptores, and rarely, if ever, builds a nest for itself. It usually 

 makes use of an old nest belonging to some other species, and 

 occasionally occupies one with eggs in it, allowing these to remain, 

 together with its own. The nests thus taken possession of are 

 generally to be found in lofty trees, such as pines. Baron v. Erianger 

 mentions having found three eggs of this Falcon in the nest of a 

 Long-eared Owl, together with an addled egg of the rightful owner. 



The usual complement of eggs appears to be three or four. These 

 vary considerably in colour and marking, .some being cream colour, 

 dotted all over with minute reddish spots, others pale rufous, with 

 reddish-brown spots and blotches. The average measurements are 

 41 X 32 mm. 



The Hobl>y found in Tunisia has been separated by Erianger from 

 typical F. subbuteo, and referred to F. subhutcu gracilis (C. L. Brehm). 

 I cannot, however, find sufficient reason for such subspecific distinc- 

 tion, as in the fairly large series of the species in my Tunisian collec- 

 tion, may be found individuals, obtained in the breeding-season, which 

 do not differ in any way from European examples. There is no doubt, 



