Correspondence. 63 



Si/Jvia nhor'ia. Thoy are somewhat larger than those pre- 

 viously recorded, measuring as follows : — 



Locality, Date. Sex. Wing. Ist Prim. Tl. Tar>!. Culm. 



IJlaauwberg 10.2.12 M 89 11 70 22 10 



„ 11.2.12 M 85? 8 69 22 16 



„ 13. 2. 12 M 93 11 68 22 16 



„ 15. 2. 12 M 90 10 68 22 16 



„ „ F 87 11 68 23 16 



„ 16.2.12 M 83? 11 68 22 16 



M 89? 10 71 22 lO-o 



,, „ M 90 11 72 22 16-5 



19. 2. 12 M 91 12 67 22 16 



„ March 1912 M 89 10 67 22 17 



In some of the specimens the wing-feathers are moulting, 

 and these are indicated by queries. It will be noted that 

 the first primary is rudimentary, and there can be no doubt 

 that this species is a migrant, especially as Mr. Noome writes 

 that their habits were sedentary at Blaauwberg. 



Trusting that this will reach you in time for insertion in 

 the next number of the Journal, 



I remain, yours truly, 



Austin Roberts. 



Trausvaal Musoum, Pretoria, 

 30. 4. 12. 



Quail in South Africa. 

 Dear Mr. IIaagner, — 



Can you confirm the view expressed on i)age 222, vol. iv. 

 o£ Sclater's ' Birds,' that though some European Quail may 

 reach our area and actually interbreed Avith the red-cheeked 

 species which swarms through South Africa year after year, 

 yet there is at least a subspecies distinction between the 

 two? 



If Coturnix a/ricana does not occur in Europe, tlien where 

 is it a migrant from ? 



Yours truly, 

 i:ast London, Jxo. Wool). 



6.6. 11. 



