Birds of East Prussia. 507 



barking of a large dog ; that of the female is an unmelodious 

 screech. (C/. Schmidt, J. f. O. 1885, p. 82; Hartert, 

 ' Feinde der Jagd/ p. 81 (1885) ; id. Mitth. orn. Ver. Wien, 

 ]887.) 



Syrnium lapponicum (Retz.). 



Has been killed, in 1832, in the district of Gumbinnen. It 

 is of very rare occurrence in the eastern parts of Germany. 



Syrnium aluco (L.). 



Common. 



AsiO ACCIPITRTNUS (Pall.). 



Extremely common during its migration, especially in 

 October, less numerous in spring. It undoubtedly breeds 

 regularly in East Prussia, but in very small numbers. 



Asio OTUs (L.). 



Breeds in East Prussia, but is more numerous during 

 migration. The eggs, which are always deposited in old nests 

 of Crows or other birds, are usually found in April, but 

 the time when they are laid is very uncertain. They are 

 sometimes found rather late in May, sometimes early in 

 April or even in March. 



Bubo bubo (L.). 



Is absent from many parts of the pine-forests of the south- 

 east, but not rare in the north-eastern parts. The eggs are 

 sometimes deposited on the ground, but usually in old nests 

 of the larger birds of prey. The young birds are often 

 reared by the foresters and sold for use in the '' Krahen- 

 hiitte,^' to attract the crows, ravens, and birds of prey — an 

 interesting sport much in favour in many parts of Germany. 



FaLCO PEREQRINUS, L. 



A regular breeder in all the pine-forests of larger size, rarer 

 in other woods. It arrives at its breeding-places early in 

 March, and I have found an egg in the last days of March, 

 but the clutch is generally not ready before April. As rocks 

 are entirely absent from East Prussia, the Peregrine always 

 breeds in trees, almost always in pines. The eggs are usually 



