10 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



until late in the evening and takes on the wing. 

 Although Partridges are mentioned, the Hobby does 

 not seem to be a great enemy of the gamekeeper, 

 as it usually contents itself with much smaller 

 prey. 



The Hobby does not seem to trouble itself much 

 about building a nest for itself, usually taking pos- 

 session of that of a Crow or Magpie, especially if 

 placed near the top of a high tree :* it has also been 

 known to place its nest on the projecting ledge of a 

 rock. 



The Hobby is something like a miniature Pere- 

 grine, the general colouring being much the same, 

 and it also having the same conspicuous moustache. 

 The beak is blue; cere yellow; head, neck, part 

 under the eye and ear-coverts dark dusky blue, each 

 feather having a darker line in its centre ; a mous- 

 tache extends from the base of the bill, the same as 

 in the Peregrine ; throat white ; a sort of greyish 

 white collar extends part of the way round the back 

 of the neck, all the rest of the upper parts dark 

 slate-grey ; quills and tail dusky ; breast and belly 

 white, longitudinally streaked with broad streaks of 

 dusky ; elongated feathers on the thighs and under 

 tail- coverts light rusty orange, with some dark 

 streaks, which the very old bird is said to lose ; 

 under side of the tail light grey, barred with a 



* Hewitsou. 



