The Hobby Hawk. 



457 



The two middle feathers in the tail are plain, and the 

 remainder irregularly barred with russet brown, having 

 pale greyish tips. The sides of the neck, breast, abdomen, 

 and thighs, are yellowish brown, marked with longitudinal 

 brown spots ; the vent is palest, and is free from marks. 

 The legs are yellow, and the claws black. 



Habits and Beeeding. — The Hobby Hawk is migra- 

 tory in habit. It arrives in this country in April, and 

 leaves again in October. It has been found in Russia and 

 Norway, and other parts of the Continent. It is a very 

 wild bird, and difficult to approach. In the pursuit of its 

 prey it exhibits much boldness and daring, as well as de- 

 termination. It frequents forests and mountainous districts 

 which are well wooded, and builds its nest in very lofty 

 trees. The hen lays from four to five yellowish white eggs, 

 speckled with reddish brown. The period of incubation is 

 not known — probably about seventeen days. The young do not 

 leave the nest until they are fully fledged. 



In its chief characteristics the Hobby Hawk greatly re- 

 sembles the Sparrow Hawk. It sometimes follows sportsmen 

 in their excursions, but instinctively keeps beyond the reach 

 of the gun, its object being to chase and capture any wounded 

 birds which have not been fatally hit ; these it proceeds to 

 devour at once, and returns, in the hope of securing other 

 victims, until its appetite is fully appeased. Hobby Hawks 

 not infrequently hunt in pairs, the male and female to- 

 gether ; they are, however, much more rare than either Kestrel 

 or Sparrow Hawks, and are seldom seen, excepting in wild 

 and hilly localities, or in the neighbourhood of woods and 

 commons. 



Methods of Capture. — The Hobby, being of a wilder 

 nature than the Sparrow Hawk, is more difficult to capture. 

 A spring trap, concealed among deep grass, baited with a live 

 bird, and placed near its usual haunts, gives the best chance 

 of success. 



The Hobby Hawk is taken by fowlers with limed twigs, and 

 frequently gets entangled in the meshes of their nets when 

 they are set for Larks or Finches ; but it is more wary than 

 the Sparrow Hawk. 



Food and Treatment. — Follow the treatment recommended 

 for the Kestrel Hawk on p. 449. 



