HOBBIES 323 



able at waiting on, and very fine fliers to the lure. Here their 

 good qualities ceased ; when tried at wild quarry of any kind 

 they failed, and though, perhaps, with perseverance, individual 

 birds might turn out well, this variety can hardly be included 



Merlin ' feeding up ' 



among the birds used in sport at the present day. Mr. E. 

 Michell did, we believe, succeed in training one to fly larks as 

 well as the best merlins, but it is the only case we know of. 1 



1 In the spring of 1885, a pair of hobbies took up their quarters for breed- 

 ing purposes in an old wood in the country of the Old Hawking Club. It was 

 a common practice to let fly an eyess tiercel near this wood for the purpose of 

 ' drawing the hobbies,' which would rally out to mob and drive away the in- 

 truder with the greatest vigour. Never have we seen so fine an exhibition of 

 flying and stooping as was shown by these beautiful little falcons, and deeply did 

 we regret that it was not possible to make use of such splendid powers as they 

 possessed for the service of man. 



