Py LA aE ey 
fEfalon, Aldr. av. [. 187. 
THe Hozgsy. Vill. Orn. p. 83. 
Penn. Br. Zool. No. 61. 
Ar&. Zool. 2. fp. 227 Os 
Lath. Gen. Syn. I. p. 103. 90. 
——~ Suppl. p. 28. 90« 
Le Hobreau, Brif. Orn. 1. p. 375. Ne. 20. 
Buff. Oif. : B. 2a 7 ita Le. 
Belon. av. 118. 
Stein Falck. Frifch. t. 86. 
Laerke-Falk. Brunn. Lo. 11. 

The Hobby is found in the temperate parts of Europe. It was 
antiently ufed in falconry in this country, particularly in daring of 
Larks and other {mall birds. It is faid, that the Larks never venture 
to take their flight in fight of this bird; but that if it hovers over 
them, they mall remain motionlefs on the ground while the fowler 
draws a net over them. 
We find on comparing the different defcriptions given by authors of © 
this bird, with fpecimens that have fallen under our obfervation, that few 
birds vary more, in the colours of their plumage, than the Hobby: in 
fome the back is reddifh, or deep brown; in others almoft black witha 
bluifh caft. Again, we find fome with the back throughout of a. 
very deep lead colour; and others with the edges of the feathers of a 
pale yellow-brown. The breaft is generally of a pure white with 
dark {pots ; but thefe alfo vary: the white is tinged with a faint dirty~ 
brown in fome; and the {pots incline to brown, inftead of black, in 
others. The irides are brown of every fhade in different birds: 
one 
