S06 PHASIANID^. 



belongs to a paler and large-spotted form, C. montezumx mearnsi, which ranges into 

 Northern Mexico. We notice that birds from different localities vary somewhat 

 in the colour of their plumage, some being darker than others, some greyer on the 

 sides of the body and not so black. In no case, however, do we find these forms 

 sufficiently pronounced to deserve a separate name, and they do not seem to have 

 defined areas of distribution, as we have seen in the British Museum a large-spotted 

 bird from Puebla which was indistinguishable from Texan examples. 



Mr. John Swinburne, writing to Bendire ^ from Arizona, says that this Quail lies 

 very close at all times, and will almost allow itself to be trodden upon before it moves. 

 Even the adult, he remarks, " seems very stupid when suddenly flushed, and, after flying 

 a short distance, alights and attempts to hide in most conspicuous places. I have seen 

 men follow and kiU them by throwing stones." In Arizona the species is found at a 

 height of from 7000 to 9000 feet during the breeding-season, frequenting the thick 

 live-oak scrub and the patches of rank grass ; in winter it descends to lower levels. 



The nest is a hollow in the ground under some tuft of long grass, and is somewhat 

 carefully lined. The eggs, from eight to ten in number, are white. 



2. Cyrtonyx saUaei. 



Cyrtonyx sallei, Verr. in Thomson's Arcana Nat. i. p. 35, t. 4 ^. 



Cyrtonyx sallmi, Salv. & Godm. Ibis, 1889, p. 242'; Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 427' ; 



Handb. Game-Birds, ii. p. 148 ' ; IMs, 1902, p. 242'; 1903, p. Ill \ 

 Cyrtonyx merriami, Nelson, Auk, xiv. p. 48 ". 

 ? Cyrtonyx merriami, Nelson, Auk, xix. p. 391, t. 15. fig. 3 '. 



C. montezumce similis, sed supra grisescentior, fasciis nigris angustioribus et dorsi striis longitudinalibus 

 mfescentibus nee albidis ; gula nigra, torque gutturaH efc genis albis ciroumdata ; gutture imo, praepectore 

 et 'pecfcore toto castaneis ; corporis lateribus totis scMstaceo-cinereis, albo ocellatis, hypochondriis imis 

 rufo ocellatis ; abdomine imo et subcaudalibus nigris ; alis intus ciaeraceis. Long, tota circa 8'5, alse o-2, 

 culm. 0*7, tarsi l-l. (Descr. maris adulti ex Amula. Mus. nostr.) 



5 adhuc ignota. 



Eab. Mexico ^ ^, Amula, Guerrero {Mrs. R. H. Smith ^ ^), Volcan de Orizaba, Vera 

 Cruz {Nelson & Goldman ^). 



Salle's Harlequin-Quail is still a very rare bird in museums, and we have seen but 

 few specimens. It is easily distinguished from C. montezumce by its lighter chestnut 

 under surface, and by the sides of the body being light slaty-grey, spotted with white. 

 The chief character, however, is the bufi" and chestnut spotting of the flanks, which is 

 one of the features of C. merriami from Orizaba ''. We have, therefore, little doubt 

 that Mr. Ogilvie Grant is right in uniting the latter with C. salloei. 



In his recent paper {cf. Auk, 1902, description of tab, xv.) Mr. Nelson again upholds 

 the distinctness of C. merriami and gives a figure of the type. His description does 

 not agree with his original diagnosis, and the bird redescribed and figured appears to 

 be a small spotted form of C. montezumce. 



