CHAPTER VI 



The Swiftest of British Hawks 



FOR many years I hoped that one day I should discover the nest of a 

 Hobby — so that I might watch in the live free state the habits and 

 manner of flying of this delightful little Falcon — but, in spite of 

 protracted inquiries and diligent searchings, it was not until quite recently 

 that this ambition was fulfilled. 



I had, of course, in my youthful days passed through the phase of dis- 

 covering in Kent the nests of such birds as Nutcrackers, Twites, Snowy Owls, 

 and so forth, and on one occasion firmly believed that I had discovered that 

 of a pair of Hobbies. 



I was walking with a gamekeeper one cloudless April morning when I 

 chanced to see a hawk perched on the very tip-top twig of a tall, dead ash tree. 

 For a while we stood and watched it, but we were really too far away to 

 form any idea as to the colour of its plumage, and consequently decided to 

 approach to closer quarters. 



As we crossed an open space the hawk, catching sight of us, spread its 

 wings and tail, and soared into the air. ' What long wings it has ! ' I remarked 

 excitedly to my friend. ' And how blue it is ! Whatever kind of hawk can it 

 be ? ' He said he thought it must be a blue French hawk, and that he knew 

 there were some about as he had shot one, and had it stuffed in a case, at home. 



Needless to say, my excitement was now approaching the state of feverish- 

 ness, and I begged that we should go forward and see if there was a nest. My 

 companion remembered that there was an old magpie's nest at about the point 

 from which the hawk flew, and we accordingly set out on a tour of investigation. 



Surely enough, there was the magpie's nest, from which, as we drew near, a 

 second hawk flew. 



My joy knew no bounds, and although the nest was at the top of a very 

 high oak, I managed to climb up to it, and found that it contained three eggs 

 — very richly marked with dark red and purple blotches. 



Certainly these were the finest eggs I had ever seen, and most surely 

 belonged to some very rare bird. Incidentally, they were the first hawk's eggs 

 of any kind I had ever discovered ! 



On my return home I consulted all of the bird books in my possession, and 

 studied the coloured plates of birds' eggs in order to try and identify what I 



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