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still in the Crimea and the rest of New Russia this is not the case, as wherever the smallest grove 

 is found, there one is almost certain to discover its nest, which is often one stolen from a Magpie 

 or Crow. During the summer it may be met with all over the Steppes, principally near pools 

 and stagnant water, where the various feathered tribes assemble to quench their thirst. There it 

 is the terror of the different species of Larks, and particularly of the Calandra Lark, on which it 

 pounces from some bush, forces it to take flight, and seizes it in the air. During the summer 

 the young and inexperienced birds of this species are the greatest sufferers, as the old ones are 

 too shrewd to take flight, but squat close to the gi-ound and thus escape, as this Falcon only 

 seizes those that are on the wing. This Falcon also takes great pleasure in pursuing birds much 

 larger than itself, which it cannot injure, but only annoy. The Numidian Cranes are particularly 

 subjected to its malice. At the Salghir brook, in the Crimea, I observed a pair of these Falcons 

 interfering in a perfect spirit of mischief with a flock of these Cranes, who were amusing them- 

 selves with dancing, and taking pleasure in striking first at the one and then the other of these 

 peaceable birds, apparently deriving much amusement from this proceeding. During the 

 breeding-season it frequents the forests and wooded districts generally, but at other seasons 

 of the year is found in the open country, where its favourite food, which then consists of birds, is 

 to be found." 



Bailly says, " In autumn, when the first Quails migrate, the Hobbies leave the forests and 

 are found in the groves on the plains. From time to time they visit, particularly in the mornings, 

 the open, to chase Larks, Swallows, Quails, &c., which rise before the dogs, and do not fear to 

 seize them even within range of the sportsman's gun." 



Loche states : — " In Algeria it causes great havoc amongst the small birds, particularly those 

 that frequent the ground, such as the Quails, Hemipodes, Thrushes, Larks, &c, and will sit 

 motionless on a clod of earth for hours watching for them. Nor does it despise insects. 



" M. Bouteille, in his ' Ornithologie du Dauphine,' states that he has seen a party of five or 

 six of these Falcons fishing very expertly for frogs on a sheet of water near Drac, where they were 

 fired at for several hours, the survivors not showing alarm." 



We are unable to refer to M. Bouteille's work, quoted from as above by Mr. Loche ; but it 

 appears to us that the birds spoken of by M. Bouteille were in all probability Bed-footed Falcons, 

 and not Hobbies. 



Dr. L. Taczanowsky, of Warsaw, has given us the following notes respecting the food and 

 habits of this bird : — 



"The Hobby readily feeds on large insects. At two periods of the year it has in our 

 country ample opportunities of satisfying this taste. In the month of May, when the Cockchafers 

 (Melolontha majalis) are plentiful, the Hobbies go every evening to the fields and, flying about in 

 different directions above the wheat and rye, where these insects have undergone their changes, 

 seize those which rise into the air, and, continuing their flight, tear off the elytra and legs and 

 devour the rest. They continue hunting after them until it is quite dark. The other period is 

 when, during the great heat in the month of June, the different species of Libellulce appear in 

 large numbers; and then the Hobbies feed almost exclusively on these. In flying over the 

 cornfields, or under the foliage, they seize them on the wing, and, after tearing off the wings, 

 they devour them, like the Cockchafers, without stopping in their career. I have never seen 



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