All rig/iti reserved. February, 1917. 



BIRD NOTES: 



THE — 



JOURNAL OF THE FOREIGN BIRD CLUB. 



Nesting of the Blach-breasted Mexican Quail. 



By Wm. Shore Baily. 



In the Spring of 1913 I bought two pairs of this in- 

 teresting species from Fockelmann, hoping to have success in 

 breedii^g them in one !of my aviaries. Although, from time to 

 time, they have built rather neat little nests in various parts 

 of their enclosure, this (1916) is the first year that either pair 

 has actually nested, and I regret very much to have to record 

 a failure in this case also. 



CoLinus (Oriyx) pectoralis, the Black-breasted Mexican, 

 Colin or Quail, very closely resembles its near relatives, the 

 common "Bob-White" (C. virginianus), and the more fre- 

 quently imported Cuban Quail (C. cubanensis). According 

 to Ridgway there are no less than nine species of CoUnus 

 found in N. America; in addition to these nine other kinds of 

 Crested Quail are also found there, in which are included the 

 Californian, Squamata and Montezuma, all species fairly well 

 known to English aviculturists. The White-cheeked Crested 

 Quail, bred by Mr. W. E. Teschemaker, in 1910*, is found 

 further south, in somie of the Central American States. The 

 hens of Coliiius are very much alike,, and I very much doubt 

 if ths ordinary observer could tell the difference between them. 

 The cock pectoralis differs from virginianus and cabanensis 

 in having much more black upon the breast and low^r 

 parts. The call note is very like the "Bob-White's" well 

 known cry. Like tnese and their Californian cousins, they 

 spend the greater portion of their time running about and 

 perching on the branches of trees. My Blaick-breasts usually 

 roost high up, but not invariably so. 



Vide •• B..\."' Vol. I , N.S , page 315. 



