COTURNIX DELAGORGUEI. 



HARLEQUIN QUAIL. 



(Plate 31.) 



Coturnix delagorgiiei, Delagorgue, Voy. Afr. Austr., n, p. 615 (1847) ; 

 Sharpe's ed. Layard Birds of S. Afr., p. 605 (1875-84) ; Nicolls 

 and Eglington, Sportsman in S. Afr., p. 106 (1892) ; Ogilvle-Grant, 

 Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxn, p. 243 (1893) ; Reichenow, Vogel 

 Afrikas, i, p. 507 (1900-01) ; Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., m, p. 355 

 (1905) ; Sclater & Stark, Birds of S. Afr., rv, p. 224 (1906). 



Local Name. " Lequatha " of the Matabele (Oates). 



Description. The bird figured is an adult male. The female has the 

 throat and chin white, the sides of the neck and cheeks buffish- 

 white spotted with black, the rest of the lower surface duU chest- 

 nut with black spots and mottlings on the upper-breast and along 

 the flanks. Length about 6 in. Its weight varies but average 

 specimens weigh about 3^ oz. 



DiSTRiBiTTioN. The Harlequin Quail is found over the greater part 

 of Africa from the Nile to the Cape Colony. In South Africa it 

 occurs in the eastern part of the Cape Colony and extends north- 

 wards to Rhodesia and Ovampoland. In East and Central Africa 

 it is common. 



The Harlequin Quail is one of the most interesting of the 

 South African migrants. In Potchefstroom, where I first met 

 with it, it appears in large numbers about Christmas. 



In good QuaU years it arrives in immense flocks. Shortly 

 after arriving they start breeding and I think are double 

 brooded, but it is almost impossible to verify this as it is 

 difficult to keep so smaU a bird under prolonged observation. 

 My experience is that young ones can be found from Christmas 

 to April ; the eggs are practically indistinguishable from those 

 of Coturnix capensis. 



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