74 BRITISH LAND BIKDS. 



and kill urn and it is affirmed that two of them 

 will attack a wolf, blind him by strokes of their 

 wings and beaks, and then destroy him at their 

 leisure with their powerful talons. 



The HOBBY, a true falcon, though of small size, 

 may be considered as a peregrine falcon in minia- 

 ture, but is rather more slender in its proportions. 

 In this country it is a summer visitor, and, though 

 well known, is not very numerous. It prefers 

 wooded districts, where it builds its nest on high 

 trees. The food of this species is small birds and 

 large insects. 



The MERLIN though one of the smallest of the 

 British falcons, is possessed of rapid flight and 

 great courage, attacking and retaining its hold on 

 birds far superior to itself in size and weight. It 

 has been known to strike a partridge, certainly 

 more than twice its own weight, dead, with a 

 single blow. It skims, like a swallow, over the 

 ground, with surprising swiftness. In the days of 

 falconry this species was much valued. It is a 

 winter visitor in the southern parts of this coun- 

 try, and breeds in some of the northern counties. 

 In the adult bird the back and wings are of a fine 

 blue grey, whence the poet sings, 



" The elfin king, like the merlin's wing 

 Are his pinions of glossy blue." 



Of the inferior grade of falcons is the KESTREL (or 



