^'1 

 breeds in small societies in irmigary and oilier parts of 



South-eastern Europe ; it generally occupies the aban- 

 doned nests of Crows or Magpies, aiul lays from four 

 to six eggs in May. Willi regard to the gregarious 

 breeding-habits of this species I well remember to have 

 heard a story many years ago from the late E. Clongh 

 Newcome to the effect that some Rooks being requii'ed 

 alive for the training of Peregrine Falcons at Vienna, 

 an emissary was despatched thence to a reported 

 " rookery " at some distance down the Danube, and 

 that on his arrival at the indicated locality he found 

 that the Rooks' nests were entirely deserted by their 

 builders, and most of them occupied by Red-footed 

 Falcons. 



The cry of this Falcon closely resembles those of the 

 Hobby and the Lesser Kestrel, but is quite distin- 

 guishable from either by any one conversant with the 

 smaller FalconidtiB. 



In my experience the present species very seldom 

 comes alive into the hands of bird-dealers in this 

 country, and is difficult to keep in captivity through the 

 cold months, although I have not a doubt that during 

 the summer it would thrive at "hack," i.e. at liberty, 

 if taken from the nest, and " reclaimed," or broken to 

 the fist, before it could fly. I consider the name 

 " Orange-legged Hobby," that has frequently been 

 applied by English writers to this Falcon, as quite a 

 misnomer, and 1 look upon it in almost every respect as 

 being essentially of the Kestrel family. 



