THE HOBBY. 29 



recent testimony from the pen of J. H. Gurney, Esq. than 

 whom, perhaps, there can be no better authority appeared in 

 the "Ibis" for 1867, and is as follows: "I have for many years 

 made a point of examining, as carefully as I have been able, as 

 many specimens as possible of the Peregrine Falcon from all parts 

 of both hemispheres where that widely-spread species occur*, and 

 I now find myself unable to detect any constant specific difference 

 that may be relied on between the three supposed species, Falco 

 peregrinus, F. anatum, and F. nigriceps" I may remark that if 

 Mr Cassin's figure of the last-mentioned bird is correct (see plate 

 xiv. of the Zoology of the "U.S. Naval Expedition in the Southern 

 Hemisphere," vol. ii., Washington, 1855), it exhibits a state of 

 plumage which I have not found in a single Peregrine in this 

 country: the bill is said to be comparatively weaker, but the 

 figure shows an even greater weakness in the claws. Plates, how- 

 ever, are at best subject to fault-finding. Mr Cassin's figure of 

 the northern sea-eagle is not exempt, the drawing being without 

 a hind toe to one of the feet. Falco nigriceps was originally 

 described as a new species by Mr Cassin in his beautiful volume 

 on the " Birds of California and Texas" in 1853. 



THE HOBBY. 



FALCO SUBBUTEO. 



Although the Hobby cannot be said to be a common species in 

 Scotland, its occurrence is now so frequent as to excite some sur- 

 prise that it should have escaped the observation of many previous 

 writers. It is more frequently met with in the eastern counties 

 than in other districts, as, with the exception of the island of Arran, 

 I have not heard of any western locality where specimens have 

 been obtained. A beautiful male was shot there some years ago 

 and examined by myself; and I have been assured by Mr Halliday, 

 one of the Duke of Hamilton's keepers, that he has, in several in- 

 stances, taken both the bird and its eggs in that island, when 

 assisting the late Dr Martin Barry to make his collection. Mr 

 Halliday appears to be well acquainted with the merlin, peregrine, 

 and other " hawks " breeding in Arran, and has described to me 

 the plumage of the Hobby so correctly that I have little or no 

 hesitation in recording its occurrence there as a native. 



