306 PHASIANID. 
belongs to a paler and large-spotted form, C. montezume mearnsi, which ranges into 
Northern Mexico. We notice that birds from different localities vary somewhat 
in the colour of their plumage, some being darker than others, some greyer on the 
sides of the body and not so black. In no case, however, do we find these forms 
sufficiently pronounced to deserve a separate name, and they do not seem to have 
defined areas of distribution, as we have seen in the British Museum a large-spotted 
bird from Puebla which was indistinguishable from Texan examples. 
Mr. John Swinburne, writing to Bendire® from Arizona, says that this Quail lies 
very close at all times, and will almost allow itself to be trodden upon before it moves. 
Even the adult, he remarks, “ seems very stupid when suddenly flushed, and, after flying 
a short distance, alights and attempts to hide in most conspicuous places. I have seen 
men follow and kill them by throwing stones.” In Arizona the species is found at a 
height of from 7000 to 9000 feet during the breeding-season, frequenting the thick 
live-oak scrub and the patches of rank grass; in winter it descends to lower levels. 
The nest is a hollow in the ground under some tuft of long grass, and is somewhat 
carefully lined. The eggs, from eight to ten in number, are white. 
2. Cyrtonyx sallezi. 
Cyrtonyx sallei, Verr. in Thomson’s Arcana Nat. i. p. 35, t. 4’. 
Cyrtonyx sallei, Salv. & Godm. Ibis, 1889, p. 242°; Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 427° ; 
Handb. Game-Birds, ii. p. 148%; Ibis, 1902, p. 242°; 1903, p. 111°. 
Cyrtonyx merriamt, Nelson, Auk, xiv. p. 48°. 
? Cyrtonyx merriami, Nelson, Auk, xix. p. 391, t. 15. fig. 3°. 
C. montezume similis, sed supra grisescentior, fasciis nigris angustioribus et dorsi striis longitudinalibus 
rufescentibus nec albidis ; gula nigra, torque gutturali et genis albis circumdata ; gutture imo, prepectore 
et pectore toto castaneis ; corporis lateribus totis schistaceo-cinereis, albo ocellatis, hypochondriis imis 
rufo ocellatis ; abdomine imo et subcaudalibus nigris; alis intus cineraceis. Long. tota circa 8°5, ale 5-2, 
culm. 0°7, tarsi 1-1. (Descr. maris adulti ex Amula. Mus. nostr.) 
° adhuc ignota. 
Hab. Mexico1*, Amula, Guerrero (Mrs. H. H. Smith 2%), Volcan de Orizaba, Vera 
Cruz (Nelson & Goldman °®). 
Sallé’s Harlequin-Quail is still a very rare bird in museums, and we have seen but 
few specimens. It is easily distinguished from C. montezume by its lighter chestnut. 
under surface, and by the sides of the body being light slaty-grey, spotted with white. 
The chief character, however, is the buff and chestnut spotting of the flanks, which is 
one of the features of C. merriami from Orizaba’. We have, therefore, little doubt 
that Mr. Ogilvie Grant is right in uniting the latter with C. sallwi. 
In his recent paper (cf. Auk, 1902, description of tab. xv.) Mr. Nelson again upholds 
the distinctness of C. merriami and gives a figure of the type. His description does 
not agree with his original diagnosis, and the bird redescribed and figured appears to 
be a small spotted form of C. montezume. 
