46 FALCONID.E. 



less bulky in proportion to the whole length ; the body 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 

 Montagu 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 

 dexterously 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 

 sudden turns the unfortunate Lark was compelled to make 

 to avoid the talons of the Hobby : however, after number- 

 less evolutions, the Hen-Harrier relinquished further pur- 

 suit, 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 win- 

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

 sometimes used by London bird-catchers to enable them by 



