THROUGH THE WOODS. 115 



flight is somewhat slow and laboured indeed, all 

 the Buzzards are sluggish in their habits with 

 none of the brilliant dash which characterises the 

 Falcons ; but the bird often soars to a great 

 height, flying in circles. Peculiarities of this bird 

 are its large size (length nearly two feet), brown 

 plumage, barred tail, long wings, and short tarsi. 



Another species of woodland bird is the HOBBY England and 

 {Falco subbuteo) ; and fortunate the observer who butVerV ' 

 may chance to know of a forest frequented by ' 

 this bold and handsome Hawk. Time was when 

 the Hobby haunted many of our wooded districts; 

 but they are few and far between to-day. Unlike 

 our other Hawks the Hobby is a regular bird of 

 passage, coming here in spring to rear its young, 

 and departing in autumn to more southern lands. 

 Like the Kestrel it breeds late, makes no nest, 

 and lays its four or five eggs in some deserted 

 home of the Crow or Magpie. These eggs are 

 very similar to those of the Kestrel, perhaps a 

 trifle larger and browner. Nothing can exceed 

 the boldness or the dashing swoop of the Hobby 

 upon its prey, waging war incessantly upon all 

 birds and mammals it is capable of overcoming. 

 The greed of collectors and the persecution of 

 gamekeepers are slowly exterminating this hand- 

 some bird, to the everlasting regret of naturalists 

 who take delight in watching the ways of this 

 bold buccaneer of the woods. The Kites and the 

 Buzzards especially the HONEY BUZZARD (Perms v ery rare. 

 apivorus] are now little more than traditions in Fo^st. 

 the field naturalist's calendar ; the Hobby is fast 

 becoming the same. It might here, perhaps, be 

 as well to remark that the Honey Buzzard 

 another summer visitor to our forests, arriving in 



I 2 



