82 ORANGE-LEGGED HOBBY. 



a fifth in the same county, in the year 1832; and a sixth, 

 a male in adult plumage, in August, 1843, near Norwich 

 its stomach contained only beetles. Two have been procured, 

 both males, near Plymouth, as I am informed by Mr. li. A. 

 Julian, of that place. The first he says flew on board a vessel 

 in the Channel near the Breakwater, and was captured; the 

 other was brought to Mr. Pincombe, bird preserver of that 

 town, by a person who shot it at Wembury cliff, and who 

 said that he saw another of the same kind in company with 

 it. One has been obtained in the county of Durham. In 

 Scotland it has hitherto been unknown. In Ireland one, (and 

 possibly another, but it is uncertain,) was procured in the 

 county of Wicklow, in the summer of 1832. It was shot 

 just as it had pounced on a pigeon, of at least its own size, 

 in a gentleman's yard both fell dead at the same discharge. 



Mr. Meyer says 'I have more than once seen this bird, 

 but have not been so fortunate as to obtain it. On one occasion, 

 in the summer of 1838, I was late one evening walking in 

 the unenclosed plantations belonging to Claremont, on a heath 

 on which I knew they were sometimes found, when my advance 

 roused from the ground a bird, whose peculiar flight instantly 

 arrested my attention, and I followed it as far as the enclosure 

 of the plantation into which it had entered would permit; I 

 presently perceived it sitting upon the branch of a tree, in 

 company with another bird of similar size, but differing in 

 colour. I was near enough to observe their plumage, and no 

 doubt remained upon my mind respecting them they were 

 Orange-legged Hobbies.' 



The food of this species consists of the smaller birds, such 

 as quails, and even occasionally those that are much larger, 

 as the pigeon just mentioned, and the larger coleopterous and 

 other insects. In pursuit of the latter it is seen skimming 

 over watery places until late in the evening a habit also of 

 others of the Hawks uttering its note from time to time. 

 One of its specific names, 'vespertinus,' (of, or belonging to 

 the evening,) is doubtless hence derived. 



Its nest is said to be built in the hollows of trees, and it 

 is also stated that use is sometimes made of that of a magpie 

 or other bird. 



Male ; after the first moult the whole plumage of the back 

 is more uniforn than in the female. The general colour is 

 deep leaden blue except the legs and under tail coverts, which 

 are bright yellowish red. Length, about eleven inches; bill, 



