HOBBY. 191 



Family FALCONID^E. Genus FALCO. 



Sub-family FALCONING. 



HOBBY. 



FALCO SUBBUTEO, Linnceus. 



Single Brooded. Laying season, latter half of May or first 

 half of June. 



BRITISH BREEDING AREA : The Hobby is one of the 

 rarest and most local of the Falcons that breed in our 

 area. It breeds very sparingly in the south-eastern and 

 midland counties of England, including Hampshire, 

 Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, 

 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, and York- 

 shire. Not known to breed in Scotland or Ireland. 



BREEDING HABITS : The Hobby is a regular summer 

 migrant to the British Islands, reaching them towards 

 the end of April or during the first half of May. The 

 favourite breeding-grounds of this bold little Falcon are 

 the large woods and plantations. Everywhere it is a 

 forest bird, and never appears to breed in any other 

 localities. It is most probable that the Hobby pairs for 

 life, and, like its congener the Merlin, returns year by 

 year to certain spots to breed. In fact, many of these 

 breeding-places are so well recognized, that instances 

 are on record where pair after pair of birds have been 

 shot at them for many years in succession. The Hobby 

 is not at all social during the breeding season, but 

 several pairs may be met with breeding in one vicinity. 

 The Hobby, like the Kestrel, is no nest-builder, but 

 chooses the deserted home of a Crow, a Magpie, or even 

 a Wood Pigeon, in which to lay its eggs and bring them 

 to maturity. A nest in a tall tree in a secluded part of 

 the woods is usually selected. The nest appears not to 



