46 FALCONIDA. 
less bulky m proportion to the whole length; the body of 
the bird being slender, the tail elongated, and the points of 
the wings reaching even beyond the tail. In this country 
the Hobby is a summer visitor, appearing in April, and 
leaving again generally in October for warmer regions, like 
other summer visitors. Dr. Heysham, however, in his 
Catalogue of Cumberland Animals, mentions having seen 
a Hobby as late as November. 
Unlike the Peregrine, the Hobby appears to prefer in- 
land situations among wooded and well-cultivated districts, 
and possessing considerable power of flight, as well as per- 
severing endurance, was formerly trained to fly at Larks, 
Quails, and Snipes. Sir John Sebright says, the Hobby 
will take small birds if thrown up by the hand, but is 
not strong enough to be efficient in the field. Colonel 
Montagu says, he has “frequently witnessed the flight of 
this species in pursuit of a Skylark, which appears to be 
its favourite game; and it is astonishing to observe how 
dexterously the little bird avoids the fatal stroke until 
it becomes fatigued. A Hobby in pursuit of a Lark was 
joined by a Hen-Harrier, who not being so rapid on wing, 
was usually behind, and ready to avail himself of the 
sudden turns the unfortunate Lark was compelled to make 
to avoid the talons of the Hobby: however, after number- 
less evolutions, the Hen-Harrier relinquished further pur- 
suit, being unequal to the chase, and left the deadly stroke 
to one better adapted for rapid and durable flight, and 
aérial evolutions. The country was open, and as far as 
the eye could discern, the chase continued, but doubtless 
without a chance of the Lark’s avoiding the fatal blow.” 
The Hobby has been known to dash through the open win- 
dow of a room at a small bird confined in a cage, and is 
sometimes used by London bird-catchers to enable them by 
