by Mr. Claude Grnni in South Africa. 45 



660. COTUKNIX AFIUCANA. 



CC. Klipfonteiii, June 12 (1); Knysna, Apl. 2 and 11 

 (2) ; Z. Sibudcni, Nov. 13 to 24, Dec. 20 (7) ; Ngoye Hills, 

 Oct. 19-23 (3) ; Tv. Woodbush, Feb. 5 (2). 



Some of tliese Quails, especially a male from Knysna 

 dated April 11, have very pale clieelcs and perhaps shew 

 that there has been some admixture of blood with the 

 European bird ; but they are all smaller, the wings averaging 

 about 97 mm. against 105, the average in the European form. 



\_" Esgwasha " of the Zulus. 



The African Qnail has been taken or noted from most 

 localities visited. At certain seasons this Quail is migratory^ 

 notably in the spring (October and November), and 1 have 

 in these months seen enormous numbers on the coast-line of 

 Natal and Zuluhmd. Each flight remains for a i'ew days, 

 and then, presumably, moves northwards. Usually flushed 

 in pairs, the bird is most commonly found in cultivated lauds 

 and sugar-cane plantations. 



Tlie soft parts of an adult male are : — Iridcs rich brown ; 

 bill dark horn-colonred ; legs and toes yellowish. In the 

 female the iridcs are pale brown, and the bill somewhat 

 lighter.] 



661. COTUIIXIX DKLAGOKGUEI. 



Z. Umfolosi Station, July 1 (1) ; Tv. AYoodbnsh, 

 Dec. 28 to Jan. 31 (8). 



Mr. Grant's field-notes confirm the belief which I ex- 

 pressed in the ' Birds of South Africa,' that this Qnail is 

 only fonnd in numbers in South Africa during the summer 

 months, especially between December and February. 



[In two localities only have I seen this Quail — at Umfolosi 

 Station, Zululand, where a single pair was found and the 

 male taken ; and at Woodbush in the Northern Transvaal. 

 Although some eleven months were spent in the Northern 

 Transvaal, it was not till December 28 that the Quail was 

 seen, when a pair or so were flushed, but thronghont 

 January it was very plentiful, only an occasional pair being 



