128 Order IV 



decidedly black cheek-patches, added to which it is 

 smaller. In Britain it breeds locally on the cliffs of 

 the south coast and more commonly both on sea-cliffs 

 and inland rocks in Wales and the north of England, 

 while in Scotland and Ireland it is not uncommon. 

 The Peregrine has a fine dashing flight, and the male 

 comes so close to intruders upon his nursery as to be 

 really dangerous, for the rich red-brown eggs are 

 deposited on some narrow ledge or in some little angle 

 of the rock, where the foothold is very precarious. 

 The cry is of a shrieking nature, and the food of rabbits, 

 land-birds and sea-fowl. This species cannot manage 

 such large hares as the big northern Falcons, but is 

 the scourge of grouse moors, and therefore exter- 

 minated in many places. Occasionally it lays in 

 deserted nests of large birds in trees or on buildings. 



The Hobby (F. subbuteo) is a dark grey bird with 

 white cheeks and throat, the remainder of the head 

 black, the lower parts buff streaked with black, the 

 thighs and vent rufous. It ranges throughout Europe, 

 northern Asia and north-west Africa, while a few 

 pairs visit different districts of England from mid- 

 May until September. It has been known to nest as 

 far north as Perthshire, while stray individuals may 

 occur at any time. As it breeds in June, this long- 

 winged species is doubtless often overlooked, for the 

 deserted nests of other birds which it utilizes are then 

 hidden by the foliage ; the yellowish white eggs are 

 generally closely stippled with orange-red, but are 

 sometimes finely blotched with darker red, when they 

 resemble those of the Kestrel. It feeds largely on insects, 

 but also on small birds, which it pursues with remark- 

 able swiftness ; near the nest the parents circle round 



