72 Falconidce. 



in his interesting work on 'Game Birds and Wild Fowl.' I 

 learned from the Rev. G. Marsh that in the south of the county the 

 keepers call the Peregrine by the provincial name of ' Trammel 

 Hawk/ In France it is Faucon Pdlerin ; in Germany Wander- 

 Falke; in Italy Sparviert pellegrino ; in Spain Halcon ; in 

 Portugal Falcdo ; and in Sweden Pelegrinis-Falk. 



5. THE HOBBY (Falco subbuteo). 



This beautiful little falcon is in every respect like a diminutive 

 Peregrine ; and in proportion to its size (which seldom exceeds a 

 foot in length) vies with its congener in strength, speed, activity, 

 and endurance. It is a periodical summer visitant to this country, 

 arriving in April, and departing again in October, and I believe is 

 rarely seen in the northern counties of England ; it loves thick 

 plantations and woods, and at the time of incubation usually takes 

 possession of the deserted nest of the Magpie or Crow ; its food 

 consists of insects as well as small birds, in taking which it dis- 

 plays great adroitness; it was formerly trained to fly at larks and 

 snipes, the former of which constitute its favourite game in 

 its wild state ; hence arose one of its old specific names, alau- 

 darius ; with less apparent reason, I am told that its provincial 

 name in Wiltshire is the ' Rook Hawk.' Our word ' hobby ' 

 appears to be derived from the old French word hobereau, from 

 hober, ' to move from place to place ' (Skeat) : not a very satis- 

 factory derivation; as neither is the specific name subbuteo, which 

 the B.O.U. Committee interprets to signify 'something like 

 a buzzard.' More appropriate is the German Baumfalke, or ' Tree 

 Falcon,' for it is essentially a bird of the forest. In Italy it is 

 Falco Barletta e ciamato ; in Spain Alcotan; in Portugal Falcdo 

 tayarote ; in Sweden Lark-Folk, ' Lark Falcon.' 



Mr. Harting* says the Hobby may be distinguished from the 

 Merlin or Kestrel when flying, by its narrow pointed wings, and 

 slender form ; and adds that it chooses for its prey swallows and 

 martins, as well as larks. It is a late flying bird, and may 



* Birds of Middlesex,' p. 5, quoting Meyer's ' Illustrations of British 

 Birds.' 



