THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. II 



HOBBY. 

 F^alco subbuteo, Linn. 



A pair of Hobbies in the year 1860 took possession 

 of an old Magpie's nest on the top of a row of Elm 

 trees standing in one of our lanes ; they were supposed 

 to be Sparrow-hawks, but that could not be owing to 

 their long wings and powerful flight, they seem to 

 have brought off their young in safety ; I did not 

 happen to see them at the time, but we were visited 

 by Hobbies for two years afterwards. 



In the month of June, 1864 a male Hobby was shot 

 in a cherry orchard this side of Sittingbourne by the 

 bird-scarer, and the female was seen. 



MERLIN. 

 Falco cesalon, Gmel. 



A few years ago our woods were frequented by 

 Merlins, they always came to roost in the winter time 

 at a quarter to four o'clock, somewhat later when the 

 days got longer. I once observed five altogether 

 sitting upon a small oak-tree standing by itself in a 

 low coppice ; a pair continued to frequent the wood 

 for some years afterwards, coming in to roost at the 

 usual time, the female always before settling down to 

 roost for the night took her station on the top of an 

 elevated perch where a good -look out was kept ; the 

 male at the same time keeping well out of sight 

 amongst the thick high coppice. When the month of 



