FALCONIDA, 349 
THE HOBBY. 
FaLco supsBuTeEo, Linnzus. 
The Hobby belongs to a group of Falcons (Aypotriorchis of many 
authors) characterized by remarkably long wings, comparatively short 
tail, and soft plumage. It arrives in England in small numbers 
about the middle or latter half of May, and has been found breed- 
ing in the southern counties as far west as Devon, especially in 
Hampshire ; at one time with tolerable regularity in Essex; less 
frequently in Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk ; not 
uncommonly in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Norfolk and Lincolnshire ; 
occasionally in the midlands, and exceptionally in Yorkshire ; while 
in Cornwall, Wales, and the west it is seldom noticed. In Scotland, 
where it has occurred as far north as Sutherland, Caithness and the 
Shetlands, it is rare even on migration, and was not known to nest 
until, in August 1887, the late Sir Edward Newton discovered an 
adult and three young nailed up at Kinnaird House, Perthshire. 
In Ireland nine examples have been obtained, most of them in May 
or June. As a rule, the Hobby leaves the British Islands in 
September, but many occurrences during our ‘ winter’ months are 
on record. 
The Hobby visits Heligoland annually, and has been recorded as 
