B'lrds of East Prussia. 371 



in Germany east of the Elbe, but no straggler has yet been 

 observed in East Prussia.) 



CoL^US MONEDULA (L.). 



There are very few places in East Prussia where the Jackdaw 

 breeds. But in autumn, with the first snows, hundreds 

 of thousands generally arrive from the east, and stay there 

 for the winter. During the night many roost on the tops 

 of large buildings, others in trees. They feed almost every- 

 where, chiefly on rubbish. These winter visitors have 

 generally rather paler necks than those from other parts 

 of Germany, and do not differ from specimens from Moscow. 

 The difference, howevei*, between the forms from Moscow 

 and those from Western Germany is hardly perceptible, 

 and not at all constant. Many western specimens are 

 equally pale, and therefore it seems to be impossible to 

 separate them, even subspecifically. 



LaNIUS COLLURIO, L. 



Very common everywhere. 



Jjanius senator, L. 



Very rare, and perhaps only a straggler. A specimen shot 

 near Konigsberg is in the museum of that town, and it 

 breeds in several places in West Prussia. 



Lanius excubitor, L. 



Common from October to April. It breeds, no doubt, but 

 I cannot verify the fact, as it is very rare in the breeding- 

 season. 



The so-called Lanius major is nearly as common as the 

 true L. excubitor, and specimens are not rare which it is diffi- 

 cult to classify under either of the two supposed forms. These 

 forms are, in my opinion, certainly not more than subspecies, 

 and possibly only varie,ties. 



Lanius minor, Gm. 



A common bird from May to the end of August. The 

 eggs are to be found at the end of May and in June. The 

 nest is always placed at some height in the trees, and is 

 invariably lined with some strongly-smelling plant, such as 



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