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ore；
and the first adventure is briefly recalled。
Hobbits are an unobtrusive but very ancient people； more numerousformerly than they are today； for they love peace and quiet and good tilledearth： a well…ordered and well…farmed countryside was their favourite haunt。
They do not and did not understand or like machines more plicated than aforge…bellows； a water…mill； or a hand…loom； though they were skilful withtools。 Even in ancient days they were； as a rule； shy of 'the Big Folk'； asthey call us； and now they avoid us with dismay and are being hard to find。
They are quick of hearing and sharp…eyed； and though they are inclined to befat and do not hurry unnecessarily； they are nonetheless nimble and deft intheir movements。 They possessed from the first the art of disappearing swiftlyand silently； when large folk whom they do not wish to meet e blunderingby； and this an they have developed until to Men it may seem magical。 ButHobbits have never； in fact； studied magic of any kind； and their elusivenessis due solely to a professional skill that heredity and practice； and a closefriendship with the earth； have rendered inimitable by bigger and clumsierraces。
For they are a little people； smaller than Dwarves： less tout and stocky；
that is； even when they are not actually much shorter。 Their height is
variable； ranging between two and four feet of our measure。 They seldom nowreach three feet； but they hive dwindled； they say； and in ancient days theywere taller。 According to the Red Book； Bandobras Took （Bullroarer）； son ofIsengrim the Second； was four foot five and able to ride a horse。 He wassurpassed in all Hobbit records only by two famous characters of old； but thatcurious matter is dealt with in this book。
As for the Hobbits of the Shire； with whom these tales are concerned； inthe days of their peace and prosperity they were a merry folk。 They dressed inbright colours； being notably fond of yellow and green； but they seldom woreshoes； since their feet had tough leathery soles and were clad in a thickcurling hair； much like the hair of their heads； which was monly brown。
Thus； the only craft little practised among them was shoe…making； but they hadlong and skilful fingers and could make many other useful and ely things。
Their faces were as a rule good…natured rather than beautiful； broad； bright…
eyed； red…cheeked； with mouths apt to laughter； and to eating and drinking。
And laugh they did； and eat； and drink； often and heartily； being fond ofsimple jests at all times； and of six meals a day （when they could get them）。
They were hospitable and delighted in parties； and in presents； which theygave away freely and eagerly accepted。
It is plain indeed that in spite of later estrangement Hobbits arerelatives of ours： far nearer to us than Elves； or even than Dwarves。 Of oldthey spoke the languages of Men； after their own fashion； and liked anddisliked much the same things as Men did。 But what exactly our relationship iscan no longer be discovered。 The beginning of Hobbits lies far back in theElder Days that are now lost and forgotten。 Only the Elves still preserve anyrecords of that vanished time； and their traditions are concerned almostentirely with their own history； in which Men appear seldom and Hobbits arenot mentioned at all。 Yet it is clear that Hobbits had； in fact； lived quietlyin Middle…earth for many long years before other folk became even aware ofthem。 And the world being after all full of strange creatures beyond count；
these little people seemed of very little importance。 But in the days ofBilbo； and of Frodo his heir； they suddenly became； by no wish of their own；
both important and renowned； and troubled the counsels of the Wise and theGreat。
Those days； the Third Age of Middle…earth； are now long past； and theshape of all lands has been changed； but the regions in which Hobbits thenlived were doubtless the same as those in which they still linger： the North…
West of the Old World； east of the Sea。 Of their original home the Hobbits inBilbo's time preserved no knowledge。 A love of learning （other thangenealogical lore） was far from general among them； but there remained still afew in the older families who studied their own books； and even gatheredreports of old times and distant lands from Elves； Dwarves； and Men。 Their ownrecords began only after the settlement of the Shire； and their most ancientlegends hardly looked further back than their Wandering Days。 It is clear；
nonetheless； from these legends； and from the evidence of their peculiar wordsand customs； that like many other folk Hobbits had in the distant past movedwestward。 Their earliest tales seem to glimpse a time when they dwelt in theupper vales of Anduin； between the eaves of Greenwood the Great and the MistyMountains。 Why they later undertook the hard and perilous crossing of themountains into Eriador is no longer certain。 Their own accounts speak of themultiplying of Men in the land； and of a shadow that fell on the forest； sothat it became darkened and its new name was Mirkwood。
Before the crossing of the mountains the Hobbits had already beedivided into three somewhat different breeds： Harfoots； Stoors； andFallohides。 The Harfoots were browner of skin； smaller； and shorter； and theywere beardless and bootless； their hands and feet were neat and nimble； andthey preferred highlands and hillsides。 The Stoors were broader； heavier inbuild； their feet and hands were larger； and they preferred flat lands andriversides。 The Fallohides were fairer of skin and also of hair； and they were
taller and slimmer than the others； they were lovers of trees and ofwoodlands。
The Harfoots had much to do with Dwarves in ancient times； and long livedin the foothills of the mountains。 They moved westward early； and roamed overEriador as far as Weathertop while the others were still in the Wilderland。
They were the most normal and representative variety of Hobbit； and far themost numerous。 They were the most inclined to settle in one place； and longestpreserved their ancestral habit of living in tunnels and holes。
The Stoors lingered long by the banks of the Great River Anduin； and wereless shy of Men。 They came west after the Harfoots and followed the course ofthe Loudwater southwards； and there many of them long dwelt between Tharbadand the borders of Dunland before they moved north again。
The Fallohides； the least numerous； were a northerly branch。 They weremore friendly with Elves than the other Hobbits were； and had more skill inlanguage and song than in handicrafts； and of old they preferred hunting totilling。 They crossed the mountains north of Rivendell and came down the RiverHoarwell。 In Eriador they soon mingled with the other kinds that had precededthem； but being somewhat bolder and more adventurous； they were often found asleaders or chieftains among clans of Harfoots or Stoors。 Even in Bilbo's timethe strong Fallohidish strain could still be noted among the greater families；
such as the Tooks and the Masters of Buckland。
In the westlands of Eriador； between the Misty Mountains and theMountains of Lune； the Hobbits found both Men and Elves。 Indeed； a remnantstill dwelt there of the Dúnedain