wondered at ite sellow richness, reminiscent of the flute—like call of the Plumed Partridge 
of the Sierra Nevadas. I was not, however, expecting a duet, such as I witnessed several 
times at thie place. In the early morning, when the calls were most frequent on the 
mountain eides, one of the cage birds would utter its invitation, 'cua-cua-cua,' at inter- 
vale of two or three seconds, Soon the second bird responded, ‘ cun-kaka—wak-cus-kake-vak'!: 
while the other joined in perfectly in time and tone, 'cua-cua-cua,' both continuing for 
some twenty or thirty seconds and stopping in exact unison. It seems hard to believe 
that two birds were calling, so perfect was the time and tone. I an unable to say whether 
the birde shes PRe pe op sex or not, the plumage was so worn and broken." 
e e and songs of Dactylortyx seemed more musical and 
of Dendrortyx. In the forest above Finca Helvetia they were heard piviscatucnse wacker 
morning, but much less frequently than was the guachoco. 
In El Salvador, on parts of Mt. Cacaguatique, it was found that with the clearing 
of the original forest cover and the development of coffee éroves, these quail have come 
to prefer these groves to their natural habitat of oak scrub (Dickey and van Rossem). 
36. Cyrtonyx ocellatus ocellatis (Gould) 
Ocellated Harlequin Quail 
0 ther Names —_ 
Guatemalan: codorniz careta, codorniz pintada, perdiz 
English: spotted quail, quail, mountain quail 
Status.--This harlequin quail is a common resident within ites range except where it has 
been reduced in numbers by local conditions. 
Description.—-A medium-sized, very short-tailed quail; conspicuous crest of soft, broad, 
decurved feathers; sides and flanks strikingly spotted. Sexes different in coloration; 
the male conspicuously colored, face marked with alternate white and blackish lines and 
patches, throat black bordered by white underparts rich brown centrally, gray with round 
buff epots on sides, wings gray with black spote; the female much plainer, head grayish 
brown, streaked, the underparts pale purplish brown with black spots. 
Adult male.--Head contrastingly banded with black and white: crown blackish, 
bordered broad:y with white: occiput brown, nape gray with large rounded buffy spots; 
band around eye, ear area, and stripe to breast white; the white band across lower throat 
and breast posteriorly margined with black; back and rump eray, feathers with buff shaft 
streaks: breast and upper abdomen pale buff, darker and richer brown posteriorly; sides of 
neck and of breast dark gray conepicucusly spotted with buff; sides of upper abdomen with 
larger, pale tawny spots; more chestnut on flanks with gray largely replaced by black; 
middle of lower abdomen, vent, undertail coverts and thighs black. 5111 black with pale 
blue rami: irie dark brown: legs and feet light blue. i 
Adult female.-~—Head mostly brown, without conspicuous black or any white; back 
brown streaked with buff, barred with black; underparts pale cinnamon with a few blackish 
markings. Soft parts colored as in the male. 
Measurements.-- 
Male (15) Female (9) 
Wing, 114130 (123.2) Wing, 110,5-119.5 (115.7) 
Tail, 48-57.5 (53) Tail, 45-55.5 (48.8) 
Tarsus, 30.4-33.2 (32.1) Tarsus, 28.9-32.0 (30.9) 
Culmen from base, 15,1-17.5 (16.1) Culmen from base, 15.1-16.7 (15.6) 
General Distribution. -—-Southwestern México, from Oaxaca through western Guatemala. 
Distribution in Guatemala.—-Central highlands east of the Pacific divide, at elevations 
from 4,500 to 7,000 feet. 
Records.-~Chimalte co, March 2, 1946; San Juan Sacatepequez, May 12, 1946; Panajachel, 
March 5, 1942: Solold, March 5, 1942: San Pedro Jocopilas, April 22, 1947; Nebaj, April 25, 
1947. Quail probably of this species were also observed at the following localities: 
Chiul, on route 3 southeast of Nebaj; on a mountainside above Sacapulas, enroute Nebaj, at 
6,400 feet elevation: near Cotzal, April 29, 1947. 
In literature this species has been recorded from: Quetzaltenango, Duenas, 
folimdn at 5,000 feet (Salvin and Godman): Tecpén (Dearborn); Antigua, Nebaj, San Antonio, 
49 
