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It is very true that quails have been often pitched 
■upon as inftances of birds that migrate acrofs feas, 
becaufe they are lcarcely ever feen in winter : it is well 
known, however, to every iportsman, that this bird 
never flies 300 yards at a time, and the tail being 
fo fhort, it is highly improbable they iliould be 
equal to a paflage 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 Tea coafts, and pick up their food 
amongfl: the fea weeds *. 
I have happened lately to fee a fpecimen of a par- 
ticular fpecies of quail, which is delcribed by Dr. 
Shaw-f*, and is diltinguifhed from the other kinds by 
wanting the hind -claw. 
Dr. Shaw alfo fiates that it is a bird of paflage* 
Now if quails really migrate from the coafl: of Bar- 
bary to Italy, as is commonly fuppofed, whence can 
it have arifen that this remarkable lpecies hath efcaped 
the notice of Aldrovandus, Olina, and the other 
Italian ornithologifls ? 
When I had juft finifhed 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]; ; 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 molt ingenious and able 
naturalifl; hath urged, or to give my reafons why I 
* See Br. Zool. Vol. II. p. 210. 2d Ed. o£iavo. 
+ Phyf. Qbf. on the kingdom of Algiers, ch. z. 
t See j>. 459, & fe^. 
mu 
