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to the plains ; and if it breeds anywhere within our limits, it will be, I apprehend, in the higher 

 ranges of the hills." Mr. B. Thompson, writing from Kumaon, the 16th September, says, " I 

 saw yesterday our English Hobby, numbers of which ■visit India during the cold weather ; every 

 mountain-top of 12,000 feet and upwards had flocks of them hunting about for insects last 

 September, when I was out in the interior. I am inclined to doubt whether the Hobby breeds 

 anywhere in the Himalayahs south of the snowy range." 



Major Irby observed it in Oudh in September 1858 ; and Mr. Blyth says it has been killed 

 in Southern India. 



Sir Andrew Smith was the first to discover the Hobby at the Cape ; and Mr. Layard, in the 

 ' Birds of South Africa,' writes : — 



" Several specimens of this Hawk have been received, viz. : — a fine female from Swellendam ; 

 a pair, male and female, from Mr. Jackson, at Nel's Foort ; one male purchased in the flesh in 

 Cape Town ; a richly coloured male also fell to my own gun on the Cape Flats ; and Mr. Atmore 

 has procured it near Blanco." Mr. Andersson procured it in Damaraland ; and it has been sent 

 from Bissao, in West Africa. 



The Hobby is a true Falcon, and is in fact an immature Peregrine in every respect ; long- 

 winged, swift, and peculiarly active, it is a terror to all small birds, catching even the strong-winged 

 Swallow by its superior power of flight. Larks, however, are its favourite quarry ; and from its 

 fondness for these its German and Swedish names, both meaning " Lark-Falcon," are derived. It 

 is bold ; and although it generally attacks small birds, still it does not hesitate to strike sometimes 

 at birds far larger than itself. Individuals are often captured near London, which fly into the 

 bird-catchers' nets after decoy-birds. 



Mr. Gatcombe gives us an instance of this bird's impetuosity in seeking its prey : — 



" Some years since I had one sent me in the flesh, which had dashed through a window at a 

 Goldfinch in a cage, and was so injured as to be easily captured. We sometimes hear of the 

 Sparrow-Hawk doing this ; but I never knew of an instance before where the Hobby acted thus." 



Dr. Eversmann, however, has been witness of a similar occurrence during his journeys in 

 Central Asia. " The Hobby," he says, " is always on the move. Generally a pair quarter the 

 Steppe-like flats in every direction in company. Its flight is graceful, and very swift and strong. 

 It is very bold, and I have known it pursue a small bird through the window into my carriage 

 when I have been travelling on the Steppes." 



Lord Lilford has kindly sent us the following note : — " The Hobby is particularly docile, and 

 easily tamed, but, from his usual and favourite prey consisting of insects, is of no use to the 

 Falconer. I consider this bird by far the most agile and swift of all the species of Falconidse 

 with which I am acquainted, and I have occasionally seen it chase Swallows, but I think it was 

 more in sport than in earnest. I never noticed that this species hovered in the same manner as 

 the Kestrel ; but in the summer-time it sometimes soars to an immense height, and ' lies upon its 

 wings ' in bright sunny weather for hours together. The Hobby is very pugnacious during the 

 breeding-season, and the nest is often to be discovered by the cry of the old birds as they chase a 

 passing Crow, Magpie, or Jay from their domain. I never could manage to keep this species alive 

 for any great length of time in captivity, though I have in one instance succeeded in doing so 

 through three moults. A young Hobby was shot in South Lancashire some years ago by my 



