ORANGE-LEGGED HOBBY 



RED-FOOTED FALCON. 



PLATE XV. 

 Falco vespertinus, LINNAEUS. 



THE Orange-legged Hobby or Red-footed Falcon gene- 

 rally uses the nests of the Magpie, Crow, or Rook. 



It breeds freely in Eastern Europe, and is more gregarious 

 than most Falcons. Five or six nests may be found in one 

 tree, the previous occupants having been excluded. It is 

 only a very occasional visitor to England, and is even rarer 

 in Scotland and Ireland. 



The eggs, from four to six in number, seem to vary 

 considerably ; the ground colour being yellowish white, 

 mottled and blotted with two or three shades of light orange 

 brown. 



The first figure on the plate is from a specimen in the 

 collection of Mr. H. F. Walter, and is exceptionally light in 

 colour. 



