368 Herr E. Hartert on the 



one can be found. They are the most foolish "and least shy 

 birds in existence. 



Cabpodacus erythrinus (Pall.). 



East Prussia is the only part of Germany in which Car- 

 podacus erythrinus is a regular breeder. The only districts 

 in which it has been observed are the north-eastern parts, 

 between Konigsberg and Memel. Only a few places are 

 known where it is common, and these are chiefly woods of 

 Alnus glutinosa with dense undergrowth and generally with 

 swampy ground. It arrives late in the year, and not much 

 before the middle of May. The clutches contain the full 

 number of eggs in about the second week of June, but fresh 

 eggs may be found until July. The usual number of eggs is 

 five. In one wood 17 nests were found in one year, but 

 there are perhaps few localities where this bird is equally 

 common. The very peculiar song of the male obtrudes 

 itself upon one's notice. After the breeding-season these 

 birds keep hidden in the woods. I have not noticed them 

 later than August, but Herr Lindner writes me that he has 

 seen them in September. 



Carduelis carduelis (L.). 

 Common. 



Chrysomitris spinus (L.). 



Very numerous during the winter, but few remain to 

 breed. 



ACANTHIS LINARIA (L.). 



Not rare in winter, usually seen in woods of Alnus glutinosa. 

 It is not known that they remain to breed, and there is no 

 reason to believe that they do so, although I saw a single 

 male in July 1881 near Konigsberg. A flock of old and 

 young specimens of this bird was also seen in July 1885 

 on the Hiddensee, off the north coast of Pomerania, and 

 the suggestion has been made that they occasionally remain 

 to breed. This, however, has not yet been ascertained. 



ACANTHIS CANNABINA (L.). 



Common. The weather is generally too severe to allow 



