14 BRITISH BIRDS. 



dusky streaks; wings brown; the two middle tail 

 feathers deep dove colour, the others barred with 

 rusty, and tipped w^ith white ; the legs and feet are 

 yellow. The female is much larger, and the spots 

 on her breast more conspicuous than those of the 

 male. 



The Hobby breeds with us, lays four eggs, irre- 

 gularly spotted or blotched with brown, and is said 

 to migrate in October. It was formerly used in 

 falconry, chiefly for Larks and other small birds, 

 which were caught in a singular manner ; when the 

 Hawk was cast off, the Larks, fixed to the ground 

 through fear, became an easy prey to the fowler, 

 who drew a net over them. Buffon says, that it 

 was used in taking Partridges and Quails. 



