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196 BRITISH BIRDS. [vou x09 
were near roads and constantly frequented; I have also 
known nests in isolated trees within one hundred and fifty 
yards of a farmhouse. 
The Hobby is fond of remaining perched for long intervals 
on the edge of its nest for some days before eggs have been 
laid. It is possible that Howard Saunders may have mistaken 
this habit for that of brooding on an empty nest, which he 
describes. There is no doubt that this species usually sits. 
very closely. When flushed off the nest the sitting bird is 
said to ‘“‘tumble off” like a Peregrine. I have seen this 
occur markedly on one occasion only, when ! shot at the nest 
with a pebble from a catapult; the Hobby dropped off 
towards the ground for a couple of yards before she rose, 
although I am sure I did not strike her with the pebble. 
Usually when flushed from the nest, the bird drops at first 
slightly and afterwards rises. 
I have never heard the “single short high scream ” that 
Captain Meares describes. although when entering a plantation 
where a Hobby has perhaps recently laid and has not yet 
commenced to sit, | have heard a single low “kek” once 
or twice repeated, and the birds have perhaps left the 
plantation unseen. This note is, I think, usually uttered 
when Hobbies see the intruder, whilst still unobserved 
themselves. On leaving the vicinity, however, on such 
occasions, J have practically always seen at least one of the 
birds soaring overhead. On rare occasions I have heard a 
note which can only ke cescrited as a somewhat drawn-out 
wail, and this appears to occur when the birds have been” 
distressed by disturbance in the neighbourhood of their nest. 
J have not noticed down or feathers in any of the nests, 
except the very little that might be expected in any occupied 
nest, the feesnce of which would appear to Ke accidental. — 
As regards the distinctive features of the eggs, it appears — 
to me that the eggs of the Hobby are indistinguishable 
frcm scme of those of the Kestrel. JI am not an expert on~ 
tle markings of eggs, however, and probably it is for this 
reescn that they appear to me so difficult to distinguish. 
I co not know the exact incubation period of the Hobby, | 
but I know that on one occasion a clutch of two had heen 
laid by June 80th, and on July 23rd the bird was still sitting ; 
further okservations were not made until more than a 
fortnight later, when the young had been hatched. The 
eailest date on which J kave known a Hobby’s nest to 
contain a full clutch of eggs was on June 12th, but my notes’ 
aie 10t very ccemylete cn this pomt, and very probably 
tLey often lay earlier. 
