BufFo-i next 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 conceived that there is fuch 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 ft ay in Africa as foon as May fets in ; 

 and neceiiary, on the other hand, to continue in Malta from May 

 till September. 



Buffon then conjectures that quails make their paffage in the 

 night, as well as conceives them to be of a remarkably warm tem- 

 perature p, and fays that " chaud comme une callle" is in every 

 one's mouth 



Now in the firft place their migration during the night is 

 contrary to Belongs account, which M. de Buffon fo much relies 

 upon, and which rather implies that the birds were caught in the 

 day-time. 



in the next place I apprehend that 44 chaud comme une caille" 

 alludes to the very remarkable falacioufnefs of this bird, and not 

 to the conftant heat of its body. 



the wing from point to point, which are at a conliderable diflance, fly 

 againft the wind, as their plumage is otherwife ruffled. See alio Mar- 

 ten's Voyage to Spitzbergen, who obferves the fame, as likewife with re- 

 gard to the fwimrning of whales,. for which indeed there is not the fame 

 rcafon. 



P As this is given for a reafon why the African quails pafs North- 

 ward : Q^ What is to become of the Swedifh quails during the fummer? 

 Varro gives us a very particular account of this migration : 



s( De illo genere funt turdi adventitii, ac quotannis trans mare in Ita- 

 u liana advolant circa zequinoclaum autumnale, et eodem revolant ad 

 i( zequinodtium vcrnum. ^Et alio tempore turtures ac coturnices immani 

 u numero. Hoc tta fieri apparet in infulis propinquis Pontia, Palmatia, 

 " Pandataria; ibi enim cum prima volatura veniunt, morantur paucos dies 

 ic requiefcendi causa; idernque faciuntcumex Italia trans mare remeant." 

 Varro de Re Ruftica, l.III. c. 5. 



1 All birds indeed are warmer by four degrees than other animals. 

 See fome ingenious thermometrical experiments by Mr. Martin of Aber- 

 deen, Edinb. 177 1, 1 21110. 



Buffon 



