FALCONS. 5 



grine hover in the air after the manner of the 

 Kestrel, flapping its wings and then holding them 

 perfectly motionless. Once I had the advantage 

 of assuring myself that it was a Peregrine by the 

 proximity of a pair of Kestrels which were hovering 

 in their usual manner near enough for comparison. 



HOBBY. Falco subbuteo, L. 



Yarrell, i. p. 65 ; Harting, p. 4 ; Dresser, vi. p. 69 ; Seebohm, i. 

 p. 31 ; Ibis List, p. 102 ; Pultenetfs List, p. 3. 



The Hobby, both in appearance and character, is a 

 miniature Peregrine. It is a summer visitor to this 

 country. Instances of its breeding in the eastern 

 and southern counties have been frequently recorded. 

 Mr. F. Bond has received eggs from Dorsetshire, and 

 the Rev. O. Pickard Cambridge says it has regularly 

 nested in the neighbourhood of Bloxworth until 

 within the last few years. Mr. James Henning ob- 

 tained nestlings from Middlemarsh Grange Woods ; 

 a male was shot at Kimmeridge in 1854, another 

 at Long Burton in 1851, and one at Bryanston in 

 1852, now preserved in the Bryanston collection. 



MERLIN". Falco cesalon, TunstaU. 



Tarrett, i. p. 74 ; Harting, p. 4 ; Dresser, vi. p. 83 ; Seebohm, 

 i. p. 34; Ibis List, p. 103; Pulteneifs List, p. 3. 



This, our smallest Falcon, still breeds in the north 

 of England and Scotland, retiring to the lowlands 

 and cultivated districts during the winter months. 



