MS HOBBY, - Class IL 



ia ready prey to the fowler, by drawing a net 

 'over them. The hobby is a bird of passage, 

 'but breeds * in England; it migrates in October. 

 Descrip- ■ The male weighs seven ounces : the length 

 is one foot ; the breadth two feet three inches. 

 'The cere and orbits are yellow : irides hazel : 

 tipper mandible furnished with a process: 

 above each eye a white line : the crown of 

 the. head and back are of a deep bluish 

 black : the hind part of the head is marked 

 with two pale yellow spots ; each cheek with 

 a large black one pointing downwards : the 

 .i.i ■' : coverts of the wings are of the same color 

 with the back, but slightly edged with rust 

 color : the interior webs of the secondary and 

 ■ quil feathers, are varied vvith oval transverse red- 

 dish spots. The breast white, marked Vvith ob- 

 long spots of black : thighs and vent feathers, 

 pale orange : the two middle feathers of the tail 

 , are entirely of a deep dove color ; the others are 

 barred on their interior sides with rust color, 

 . and tipt vvith a dirty white : legs yellow. The 

 Femali;. spots on the breast of the female are of a higher 



* It makes its nest on a lew tree, and eyen on a moderate 

 sized hawthorn ; sometimes lays in an old crow's nest ; the 

 eggs are three or four in numher, and said to be of a white color. 

 /\s far as we can learn, it is migratory in every place where it is 

 found. J. L. .. ■ 



