THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 419 
In my opinion birds from Shustar in the south to Samarra in the north of our 
area are baetriana, what race really occurs in Northern Mesopotamia seems some- 
what uncertain, I have seen no skins thence, but certainly none of our skins are 
glaux. 
158. Barn Owl. Flammea alba, (=Strix flammea auct.) 
Flammea alba alba, Scop. (Annus 1, Hist. Nat. p. 21, 1769—N. Italy). 
Resident in small numbers throughout the area in suitable places. Wherever 
it occurs it probably breeds ; it is recorded in the breeding season from Samarra, 
Mosul, Babylon, between Museyib and Baghdad, Basra, and Fao, frequenting 
ruins, disused canals, chimneys, and old buildings. Livesay records taking a 
nest of 10 eggs between Museyib and Baghdad in April and Cumming records 
it as breeding at Fao in a loft. 
One skin examined: Amara, 3-12-18 (P. A. B.) and two others in the B. M. 
Fao, February 1885, and Babylon-n, d. 
All these three are similar and match British ones very well, they are pale 
yellowish, not at all grey on the back, and have very few spots underneath. 
A bird from Muscat in Arabia seems also to be like this race. 
159. Peregrine Falcon. Falco peregrinus. ‘‘Shaheena.’’ 
1. Falco peregrinus calidus, Lath. (Ind. Orn., 1, p. 41, 1770—India). 
2. Falco peregrinus babylonicus, Scl. (Ibis, 1861, p. 218-220—Oudh in 
India). 
(1) A winter visitor in small numbers more especially frequenting inundations, 
etc., where wild fowl abound. The earliest record is September 22nd and the 
last in the first week of April ; it is distributed throughout our area. 
Logan Home records one eating a Lesser Tern, while Cheesman writing about 
one he obtained at Baghdad notes the following debased habit: “‘ These Falcons 
wait near the larger towns during winter’s evenings and prey on the earlier bats. 
These fall easy victims, but occasionally one is missed and falls like a stone some 
twenty feet and then continues on ; the Falcons do not give chase but pass on to 
another bat, even small bats not being despised.” 
Four skins examined: ¢, Amara, 3-12-17, 14-3-18 (P. A. B.); 9, Kazimain, 
4-4-19 ; Baghdad, 7-11-18 (also two from Fao in B. M.). 
The adults match calidus well with the broad white cheek patch ; two are 
young birds. 
(2) Donald records that this Falcon (sub. nom. F. barbarus) is not uncommon 
at Basra and appears to be somewhat crepuscular in habits and sits onthe ground 
about sunset, apparently watching for bats. Armstrong obtained a young 
female at Basra on December 15th. Magrath says it arrives with the ducks, 
Sassi records it from Mosul on June 10th. 
160, Lanner Faicon. Falco biarmicus. 
Falco biarmicus tanypterus, Schleg. (Abh. Geb. Zool. u. vergl. Anat., 2. 
Hefte, 3, p. 8, 1844—Nubia). 
One obtained by Cumming at Fao on August 30th is in the British 
Museum. It was recorded by Sharpe as feldeggii in the Ibis. 1891, p. 104. 
161, Saker Falcon. Falco cherrug. 
1. Falco cherrug cherrug, Gray (Hardw. III, Ind. Zool. 1833-34— 
India). 
2. Falco cherrug milvipes, Jerd. (Ibis. 1871, p. 240—Umballa, 
Punjab). 
Cherrugs are fairly common winter visitors ; they were noted by Buxton at 
Amara, at Samarra by Pitman, while Cheesman also noted a good many near 
Baghdad in November sitting on telegraph poles. Donald records that he saw 
