Birds. 5351 



with day, yet he, who, looking on the evening sky, would attempt 

 to point out precisely the line of separation between the departing day 

 and approaching night, would have a difficult task to perform." The 

 hobby is a most active and graceful bird on the wing, and often have 

 1 watched him chasing locusts and other winged insects, at the catch- 

 ing of which he is very expert, and, with a little attention, it is easy "to 

 see him take the prey from his claws with his bill. Whether this bird 

 is a summer resident or merely a passing visitor about the time of the 

 equinoxes I cannot say, but I should think it likely that some breed in 

 the country, and that their numbers are augmented about the middle 

 of September, for it did not attract my notice until that time, when it 

 was numerous, and continued so until the end of the month, after 

 which, on account of an attack of fever, I did not notice it until the 

 21st of November, at Scutari, on the Bosphoros, when I immediately 

 recognised him by the peculiar evolutions while pursuing insects in 

 the air. I have often seen seven or eight hawking together, but did 

 not observe any during the spring, perhaps on account of their favourite 

 food, the locusts, not being about at that season. 



During the whole year I observed hawks of one kind or another, 

 many of which were never made out : once I thought I saw a kite, and, 

 early in May, I observed a large species, which appeared, seen from 

 underneath, to be of a buff colour, with the ends of the wings and spot 

 at the shoulder of each dark ; and a day or two after a uniform dark 

 coloured hawk. 



I am, however, certain of the kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and lesser 

 kestrel (Falco tinnunculoides) ; the former of which I first observed, 

 and shot a specimen on the 8th of August, when searching with my 

 gun for an owl wdiich I had seen near the camp. Not being aware at 

 the time of the existence of the latter species, I must therefore say that 

 I observed the one or the other, or both, from the 12th of April, 

 numerous during the spring, particularly about the cliffs of Inkermann, 

 where, 1 should say, they breed, and during a ride to the Alma at the 

 end of May. Dr. William Carte brought home specimens of both 

 species. 



I shot a specimen of the sparrowhawk (Falco nisus) on the 4th 

 of September, which I preserved, but I have no note of having observed 

 it at any other time. 



Specimens of the redfooted falcon (Falco vesper tinns) and marsh har- 

 rier (Falco (Bruginosus) are to be seen in England, which have been 

 brought from the Crimea, and I shot several of the hen harrier (Falco 

 cyaneus) which was abundant in September; I again observed it towards 



