112 On certain Species of American Gallinse. 



We never heard of the tiger changing his spots ; but 

 if we may believe what Mr, Nelson writes, his "Quail" 

 is undoubtedly able to do so. In the original description 

 of C. merriami we find the following : — 



" On the posterior portion of the flanks the white spotting 

 is replaced by spots of bnffy and chestnut." 



In the October number of the ' Auk,' on the sheet facing 

 plate xv., we find the same specimen described : — 



" Distribution of color on sides of breast and flanks 

 similar to same in C. montezuma, but ground-color paler 

 grey and white spots smaller. " 



Which of these descriptions is correct? Obviously both 

 cannot be, and, so far as one can judge from the indif- 

 ferent photograph on plate xv., the type specimen agrees 

 with the latter description and has the entire flanks spotted 

 with white. 



Turning again to the original description of C. merriami, 

 we read that the light shaft-streaks on the back of the neck 

 become more intensely coloured posteriorly, " until on the 

 larger scapulars and terdaries they are almost or quite 

 chestnut " ; that the tertiaries are marked with oblong black 

 spots, more like bars ; and that the chestnut area on the 

 b:east and belly is of a lighter shade than in C. montezumce. 

 Any " competent ornithologist " reading the above, and 

 bearing in mind the buff and chestnut spotting on the flanks, 

 must be aware that the type of C. merriami should not have 

 been compared with C. montezumce but with C. xallcei, which 

 possesses all these characteristics. 



Now it will be seen that the type shown in the photograph is 

 a very different bird, apparently a specimen of C. montezuma ! 



The fact that in the type of C. merriami the black on 

 the throat joins the chestnut on the breast without the 

 intervention of a white collar is probably a mere individual 

 character, and of little importance as specific or sub- 

 specific. It may even be caused by the " make-up " of the 

 skin, for the white collar in C. sallai is at best very narrow. 

 The British Museum possesses two male specimens of 

 C. texanus, which arc unquestionably merely individual 



