I 2 7 2 ] 



It is very true that quails have been often pitched 

 upon as inftances of birds that migrate acrofs feas, 

 becaufe they are fcarcely ever feen in winter : it is well 

 known, however, to every fportsman, that, this bird 

 never flies 300 yards at a time, and the tail being 

 fo fhort, it is highly improbable they fhould be 

 equal to a paffage of any length. 



We find therefore, that quails, which are com- 

 monly fuppofed to leave our ifland in the winter, in 

 reality retire to the fea coafls, and pick up their food 

 amongll the fea weeds *. 



I have happened lately to fee a fpecimen of a par- 

 ticular fpecies of quail, which is defcribed by Dr. 

 Shaw-f*, and is diifinguiiTied from the other kinds by 

 wanting the hind -claw. 



Dr. Shaw alfo ftates tliat it is a bird of pafTage. 

 Now if quails really migrate from the coaft of Bar- 

 bary to Italy, as is commonly fuppofed, whence can 

 it have arifen that this remarkable i pedes hath efcaped 

 the notice of Aldrovandus, Olina, and the other 

 Italian ornithologies ? 



When I had juft finiiried what I have here faid 

 with regard to the migration of quails, I have had an 

 opportunity of feeing the fecond volume of Monf. de 

 BufFon's ornithology J ; where, under this article, he 

 contends that this bird leaves Europe in the winter. 



It is incumbent upon me, therefore, either to own 

 I am convinced by what this moft ingenious and able 

 naturalift hath urged, or to give my reafons why I 



* See Br. Zool. Vol. II. p. 210. 2d Ed. oftavo. 

 -f Phyf. Obf. on the kingdom of Algiers, ch. 2* 

 X See p. 459, & feq. 



itill 



