A BIRDLQVER'S YEAR 



ficent folio work is Schlegel and Wiilver- 

 hurst's " Traite de fauconnerie." * The 

 illustrations in this latter volume are by the 

 late Joseph Wolf, who had no equal as a 

 painter of the different birds of prey. The 

 coloured plates are in themselves an educa- 

 tion to all lovers of birds. 



The Hobby (Falco subbuteo) is an elegant 

 little falcon, having a softer plumage than 

 the peregrine, and a comparatively greater 

 length of wing. It is remarkably swift on 

 the wing, being able to overtake swallows 

 and martins, for it preys on all small birds, 

 in addition to dragon-flies and beetles. In 

 falconry it is trained to fly at larks, snipe, 

 and quails. Though a spirited bird, it 

 lacks the power and courage of the pere- 

 grine. 



The hobby is rarely found breeding in 

 England, but resorts in small numbers to 

 the southern and midland parts ; it also 

 extends over Europe and Northern Asia into 

 India and Northern China. 



The Merlin (Falco aesalori), though the 

 smallest of the British birds of prey, is 

 renowned for its courage. Yarrell relates 



* Published at Leyden. 



139 



