Unlike the Peregrine Falcon, the Hohby appears to prefer
inland situations among wooded and well-cultivated districts,
and possessing considerable power of flight, as well as
persevering endurance, can he trained to fly at Larks,
Quails, and Snipes. Sebright says the Hobby will take
small birds if thrown up by the hand, but is not strong
enough to he efficient in the field. Montagu says he has
“ frequently witnessed the flight of this species in pursuit
of a Sky-lark, which appears to he its favourite game; and
it is astonishing to observe how dexterously the little bird
avoids the fatal stroke until it becomes fatigued. A Hobby
in pursuit of a Lark was joined by a Hen-Harrier, who not
being so rapid on wing, was usually behind, and ready to
avail himself of the sudden turns the unfortunate Lark was
compelled to make to avoid the talons of the Hohby; however,
after numberless evolutions, the Hen-Harrier relinquished
further pursuit, being unequal to the chase, and left
the deadly stroke to one better adapted for rapid and durable
flight, and aerial evolutions.” The Hobby has been known
to dash through the open window of a room at a small bird
confined in a cage, and is sometimes used by bird catchers
to enable them by its presence, and by exhibiting it in a
particular way, called “ daring,” to catch Sky-larks.
The Hohby, though a well-known bird, is not very numerous
as a species. I t chooses a high tree to make its nest
on, occasionally taking to the remains of one of suitable
size that has been deserted. The female lays three or four
eggs, in colour much resembling those of the Iceland Falcon
before described, and measuring from l -72 to 1-5 by L32 to
1-21 in.
The localities to he quoted for the Hobby, shew that its
distribution in England is somewhat like that of the Nightingale,
though its habits lead it to take a wider range, and to
disregard such very strict observance of limits. In Ireland
there seems to be but two instances of its occurrence that can be
trusted, one recorded by Thompson, and a second about three
years since in Tipperary, the specimen being in the Museum
of the Royal Dublin Society. I t certainly does not breed in
Wales. In Cornwall it is rare, according to Mr. Rodd, who
only mentions two examples obtained in that county; while
Dr. Bullmore, in his ‘ Cornish Fauna,’ describes a third.
In Devonshire, Dr. Moore and Mr. Brooking Rowe, in their
catalogues of the birds of that county, have recorded two
localities where it used formerly to breed; and Mr. Murray
Mathew stated that there was a nest near Cliagford in
1870. In Somerset, Mr. Cecil Smith says that it is a very
rare bird. I t does not seem to be much commoner in Dorset
or Wilts; and thence Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, and
Lincolnshire seem to form the north-western frontier of the
district in which it can he said usually to breed, though
instances are known of its having done so in Nottinghamshire,
Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire. In Scotland, according to
Mr. Robert Gray, it has probably bred in the Isle of Arran,
and though not a common species throughout that kingdom,
its occurrence is now so frequent as to excite some surprise
that it should have escaped the observation of many previous
authors; and an example has been killed so far to the north
as Caithness. In the parts of England south and east of
the line indicated above, it would no doubt breed every year,
were it unmolested.
The Hobby is an inhabitant of the continent of Europe
generally, from Spain, where, though not numerous, it breeds,
to Sweden. In June, 1867, Mr. Thomas Edward Buckley
obtained a male bird at Jockmock in Lapland, just on the
Arctic circle, and this would appear to be its most northern
limit. In Finland, at least in the middle and south, it
occurs, and thence, according to Pallas, extends across the
Russian dominions to Kamtchatka. Southward of this,
Mr. Swinlioe met with it at various places in China. In
India, it is known as a common winter visitant to some
parts of the Himalayas, hut is rare in the plains, and
probably does not breed in the country, where the allied
Falco severus takes its place. Turning westward, De Filippi
obtained it in June at Marend, in Western Persia. In
Palestine, Canon Tristram mentions it as a rather late
summer visitor. In Egypt it would seem to be not common,