THE SWIFTEST OF BRITISH HAWKS 63 



point of vantage it would have little difficulty in overtaking the very swiftest 

 of our smaller birds. In fact I am told by a famous modern Falconer that in 

 Hungary, where Hobbies are common, he has quite frequently seen them take 

 swallows in the air. A feat that none other of our British hawks would ever 

 try to accomplish. 



It is my intention to set down in the following pages my perhaps extra- 

 ordinary experiences with a pair of Hobbies and their nest, in the hope that 

 the opinion of the reader regarding these birds will be a happier one than if it 

 were based on the books on Falconry. 



It was not until the year 1920 that I was fortunate enough to find a Hobby's 

 nest, and when I first gazed up at it from the earth below, I came to the con- 

 clusion that to secure photographs of it would be impossible ; for the Hobby 

 had selected a disused crow's nest at the top of a pine tree, which was so high 

 that it stood out conspicuously from among the other trees close at hand. 



However, I decided to try to reach the nest and to find out what it con- 

 tained, for it would be useless to think of arranging for photography if, for 

 instance, the hawk had not finished laying. 



The task of climbing the tree, however, was by no means an easy one, 

 for the trunk of it was smooth and straight for thirty feet, and to add to the 

 difficulties, a steady misty rain was falling, which made the tree slippery, and 

 the progress consequently most wearingly slow. Still at length the lowest 

 branch was reached, and after a brief rest the ascent continued. I found 

 that the nest contained three eggs, which were by all appearances fairly hard 

 set : and noting that the female Hobby, which was fljang round screaming, 

 seemed anxious to return, I slid down to earth with all speed, and left the place 

 without further delay. 



Whilst at the nest, however, I had decided that the only possible position 

 from which photographs of the nest and its inmates could be obtained was 

 the top of a straggling beech, whose branches, I had noted, were swaying 

 obediently to each passing gust of wind. 



But having waited so long, the opportunity of securing photographs of a 

 Hobby's nest could not be treated too lightly, and the beech — ^if things were 

 well — ^would necessarily be utilized. 



Some week later, therefore, — on the sixteenth of July to be precise — I again 

 visited the place, and found that the eggs had hatched, and that there were three 

 charming little Hobbies in the nest. As quickly and quietly as possible I 

 descended to earth, and having gathered together my impedimenta commenced 

 to climb the beech tree. I had brought with me a length of rope with which 

 to lash together some of the beech boughs, as I felt sure that one of them alone 

 would not be sufficiently rigid to support the camera — certainly not to bear 

 my own weight. 



To make matters worse, a gale was blowing, and when I had got as high 



