[ 273 ] 



ftill continue to diffent from the opinion he main- 

 tains. 



Though M. de BufFon hath difcufled this point 

 very much at large, yet I find only the folio wing 

 facls or arguments to be new. 



He firft cites the Memoirs of the Academy of 

 Sciences *, for an account given by M. Godeheu of 

 quails coming to the ifland of Malta in the month 

 of May, and leaving it in September. 



The firft anfwer to this obfervation is, that the 

 ifland of Malta is not only near to the coafr. of 

 Africa, but to feveral of the Mediterranean iflandsj 

 it therefore amounts to no more than the flitting 1 

 have before taken notice of -f. 



Monf. de BufFon fuppofes that a quail only quits 

 one latitude for another, in order to meet with a 

 perpetual crop on the ground. 



Now can it be fuppofed that there is that difference 

 between the harveft on the coaft of Africa, and that 

 of the fmall quantity of grain which grows on the 

 rocky ifland of Malta, that it becomes inconvenient 

 to the bird to flay in Africa as foon as May fets in ; 

 and neceffary, on the other hand, to continue in 

 Malta from May till September. 



Monf. de BufFon then fuppofes that quails make 

 their pafFage in the night, as well as conceives them 

 to be of a remarkably warm temperature %, and fays 



* Tom. III. p. 91 and 92. 



+ Both Monf. de Godeheu and M. de BufFon feem to conceive 

 that the quail fhould fly in the fame direction as the wind blows ; 

 but birds on the wing from point to point, which are at a confi- 

 derable diftance, fly againft the wind, as their plumage is other- 

 wife ruffled. 



X As this is given for a reafon why the African quails migrate 

 Northward : Q. what is to become of the Icelandie quails dur- 

 ing the fummer ? 



Vol. LXII. N n that 



