HOBBY. 53 



less bulky in proportion to the whole length ; the hody of 

 the bird being slender, the tail elongated, and the points of 

 the wings reaching even beyond the tail. In this country 

 the Hobby is a summer visitor, appearing in April, and 

 leaving again generally in October for warmer regions, like 

 other summer visitors. Dr. Heysham, however, in his 

 Catalogue of Cumberland Animals, mentions having seen 

 a Hobby as late as November. 



Unlike the Peregrine, the Hobby appears to prefer in- 

 land situations among wooded and well-cultivated districts, 

 and possessing considerable power of flight, as well as per- 

 severing endurance, was formerly trained to fly at Larks, 

 Quails, and Snipes. Sir John Sebright says, the Hobby 

 will take small birds if thrown up by the hand, but is not 

 strong enough to be efficient in the field. Colonel Mon- 

 tagu says, he has " frequently witnessed the flight of this 

 species in pursuit of a Skylark, which appears to be its 

 favourite game ; and it is astonishing to observe how dex- 

 terously the little bird avoids the fatal stroke until it 

 becomes fatigued. A Hobby in pursuit of a lark was 

 joined by a Hen-Harrier, who, not being so rapid on wing, 

 was usually behind, and ready to avail himself of the sud- 

 den turns the unfortunate Lark was compelled to make to 

 avoid the talons of the Hobby : however, after numberless 

 evolutions, the Hen-Harrier relinquished further pursuit, 

 being unequal to the chase, and left the deadly stroke to 

 one better adapted for rapid and durable flight, and aerial 

 evolutions. The country was open, and, as far as the eye 

 could discern, the chase continued, but doubtless without 

 a chance of the Lark's avoiding the fatal blow." The 

 Hobby has been known to dash through the open window 

 of a room at a small bird confined in a cage, and is some- 

 times used by London bird-catchers to enable them by 

 its presence, and by exhibiting it in a particular way, called 



