350 HOBBY. 
far north as the Arctic circle in Lapland, while in Russia it is found 
throughout the wooded districts from 65° N. lat. down to the mouth 
of the Volga ; but in no part of the Continent does it remain during 
the cold season. From Scandinavia southward it is generally 
distributed over Europe to the Mediterranean, though most 
numerous from Bulgaria eastward ; it nests in the pine-woods in the 
extreme south of Spain, and visits the Canaries, Morocco, Algeria 
and Egypt, though rare in the last. Eastward from Asia Minor we 
trace it in summer across the wooded portions of Siberia to Kam- 
chatka, and southward to Kashmir; while in winter it occurs in 
China, and in India down to Belgaum. In Africa it ranges as far 
south as Cape Colony. Its representative in the Indian region is 
F. severus, while in South Africa it is A cuvéert. 
The Hobby is a very late breeder, seldom having eggs before the 
early part of June, and often not till the end of that month. It 
does not make a nest for itself, but adds slightly to one built in 
a tree by a Crow, Magpie, or other bird. The eggs, usually 3 in 
England, but up to 5 in number on the Continent, are often 
yellowish-white, closely freckled with rufous, and can then be easily 
distinguished from those of the Kestrel; but sometimes they are 
suffused with reddish-brown and are therefore not so recognizable: 
measurements 1°6 by 1°25 in. Previous to laying, the female is said 
to sometimes brood on an empty nest or upon eggs of the Kestrel. 
I have known a Hobby, taken as a nestling in 1849, which lived 
for fifteen years. Dragonflies, cabbage-butterflies, cockchafers and 
other insects, form its principal prey in summer ; but it also takes 
birds, especially Starlings ; while it has been known to catch Swifts, 
and is the terror of Swallows and Martins. Larks are especially 
subject to its harassing attacks in autumn, when it leaves the wood- 
lands and frequents the more open country ; it will also accompany 
sportsmen and seize Quails in front of them. 
The adult has the upper parts slate-grey, nearly black on the 
head, with a black moustache-like streak and slightly rufous nape ; 
cheeks and throat white ; under parts buffish-white, broadly striped 
with black ; vent and thighs rust-red ; cere, orbits and legs yellow, 
iris dark brown. The sexes are alike in plumage, but the female 
is larger, though less vivid in colour. Length: male 12 in., wing 
1o in.; female 14 in., wing 11°25 in. The young bird has the 
crown of the head mottled with buff, and a decided tinge of that 
colour on the cheeks and under parts; upper feathers brown, 
edged with ochreous-white ; tail with a broad pale tip; vent and 
thighs only pale rufous. 
