91 
ferior to none in point of courage; it has 
frequently been seen to pounce a partridge ; 
but their favourite game seems to be the 
lark, to which it is a great enemy, and is 
frequently taken in pursuit of them by the 
bird-catchers in their nets. 
Buffon informs vis, that " no sooner does 
it espy the sportsman and his dog, tl^an it 
hovers in the train, and endeavours to catch 
the small birds that are put up before them ; 
and what escapes the fowling-piece is caught 
by the Hobby. It seems not intimidated by 
the noise of fire-arms, and is ignorant of their 
fatal effects, for it continues to keep close 
to the person who shoots." 
The same author says, that " the term 
Hobby was applied (in some of the provinces 
of France) to the petty barons who tyran- 
nized over their peasants, and more particu- 
larly to gentlemen of the sport, who chose 
to hunt in their neighbours' grounds without 
obtaining leave, and who hunted less for 
pleasure than profit." 
The Hobby was formerly trained for 
hawking, but was more commonly used for 
taking partridges and larks with a net, 
m 2 
