PEREGRINE FALCON HOBBY. 73 



Food. Chiefly wasps and bees, both in the larval or perfect 

 state ; also other kinds of insects, small mammals and birds, 

 reptiles, eggs, and worms. 



Nest. May or June. One brood. 



Site. Usually in some tall tree ; sometimes on a ledge of a 

 cliff. 



Materials. Sticks and twigs, lined with green leaves. 



Eggs. Two or three. Creamy white, blotched and marked 

 with rich ruddy brown. Variable. 



PEEEGEINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus). 



Resident ; rarer than formerly, owing to constant persecu- 

 tion. Found most commonly in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. 



Haunts. Wild sea-cliffs. 



Plumage. Upper parts bluish grey, barred with darker grey. 

 Head and moustachial streak black ; under parts buffish white, 

 transversely barred with brown. Tail more or less barred with 

 ruddy brown, and tipped with white. Bill bluish, darker at 

 the point ; cere and legs yellow. Length 15 in. Female : 

 upper parts tinged with brown, and under parts with reddish ; 

 length 18 in. Young : ashy brown on upper parts, with buff 

 margins to feathers ; under parts dull white, longitudinally 

 streaked with brown. 



Language. A sharp " hek," repeated two or three times. 



Habits. This species is the Falcon used for hawking, on 

 account of its remarkably rapid and dashing flight and its fear- 

 less nature. It captures its prey by striking it down with its 

 talons. 



Food. Birds of various kinds up to the size of a Crow ; 

 sometimes small mammals. 



Nest. April. One brood. 



Site. On some inaccessible ledge on the sea-cliffs ; seldom 

 in trees. 



Materials. If any sticks, seaweed, grass, &c. 



Eggs. Two to four. Yellowish white, well marked with rich 

 red, orange-brown, and brick-red. Variable. 



HOBBY (Falco snbbuteo). 



Migrant ; end of May to September. Very local ; found 

 most usually in the southern, western, and midland counties ; 

 elsewhere much rarer. 



Haunts. Woodland districts. 



Observation. In general appearance like a lesser Peregrine. 



Plumage. Upper parts bluish black ; cheeks and moustache 

 black. Wings long ; under parts buffish white, longitudinally 



