292 Expedition to the Eastern Canary Islands. 



specimens were procured this is only conjecture. Likewise 



I have been unable to determine the exact status of the 



Quail in the eastern Canary group. It is certain that tliey 



are highly migratory^ but whether C c. cuturnix as well as 



C. c. ajricana breed in the eastern islands has yet to be 



proved. Neither Polatzek nor von Thanner distinguish 



between the two forms. Neither do they remark on the 



regular migration from Africa, which certainly must take 



place. Webb & Berthelot were of opinion that migration 



occurred^ but was not general, a certain number of birds 



departing at the commencement of autumn. For my part 



I suspect that C c. coturnix arrives in the island to breed, 



departing again after the summer. C. c. africana is almost 



certain to breed in these islands_, but is partially migratory, a 



very few remaining throughout the year. It is probable that 



its movements are also regulated to a certain extent by the 



prevailing weather-conditions. Von Tlianner (Orn. Jahrb. 



iyi3, p. 221 j, describing a visit to Fuerteventurain the spring 



of 1912, remarks that in consequence of the abundant 



winter rain the island presented a very different appeai'ance 



to what it had done in former years, and that Quails which 



during ihe dry years were never seen^ came in great numbers, 



and their song was heard all over the fields. It is possible 



that these Quails migrating from Africa would first touch 



the desert eastern islands, and finding, in consequence of 



the abundant rainfall, that the islands presented a very 



different aspect from their usual burnt up appearance, many 



would be tempted to remain to breed instead of continuing 



their flight to the western group. 



While in Gran Canaria in June I obtained, through the 

 kindness of Mr. T. li. Morgan, four live Quails which had 

 been captured at Firgas. These birds proved to belong to 

 (1) Coturnix coturnix coturnix, (2) Coturnix coturnix africana x 

 Coturnix coturnix coturnix. The latter hybrid very closely 

 approaches C. c. africana, but shows faint indication of the 

 black throat and white collar of typical C. c. coturnix. The 

 underparts have the rich reddish colouring of the African 

 Quail. 



