The sizes of the testes (9-12 mm.) and of the largest ova (14 mm. in
diameter and an egg 23 mm. long) of birds labeled with reference to
Cuatro Cienegas indicate breeding activity.
**_Callipepla squamata castanogastris_ Brewster.--_Specimen examined:_
one, [Male] 32028, from 9 mi. S, 11 mi. E Sabinas, June 14, 1952.
Typical representatives of _C. s. castanogastris_ in Coahuila occur
only in the extreme northeastern section of the State, and most
specimens of the Scaled Quail from northeastern Coahuila are
intergrades between _pallida_ and _castanogastris_.
No. 32028 is identified as _C. s. castanogastris_ because there is a
distinct rusty chestnut patch on its abdomen. This patch, nevertheless,
is not so large as in a more nearly typical male _C. s. castanogastris_
from 15 mi. NNW Anahuac, Nuevo Leon.
**_Callipepla squamata squamata_ (Vigors).--_Specimens examined:_ total
2: [Male] 30231 and [Female] 30232 from 10 mi. NW San Lorenzo, 4200
ft., February 3, 1951.
The subspecies _squamata_ occurs in southern Coahuila. Amadon and
Phillips (1947:577) took a Scaled Quail at Las Delicias on August 18
that "was only two-thirds grown, though well able to fly" and obtained
an adult 19 mi. W Saltillo that was typical _squamata_. Burleigh and
Lowery (1942:188) stated that _C. s. squamata_ was one of the
characteristic birds of the open desert country of southeastern
Coahuila. Scaled Quail were seen by Burleigh and Lowery (_loc. cit._)
"about Saltillo and in the open valley south of Diamante Pass."
The breast and upper back of both specimens from 10 mi. NW San Lorenzo,
are plumbeous-gray rather than pale dull gray. Also the lower back,
rump, abdomen, forehead, and crown more closely resemble the subspecies
_squamata_ rather than _C. s. pallida_. However, the upper backs of
both specimens are not so plumbeous-gray as on a male (32030) and a
female (32031) of the subspecies _squamata_ from 1 mi. N Chorro,
Durango, 6450 ft., July 11, 1952. The two birds from Durango appear to
be slightly darker than the Coahuilan specimens that approach the
subspecies _pallida_.
Burleigh and Lowery (1942:188-189) stated that one of their specimens
of _C. s. squamata_ obtained at Saltillo seems to be "very close to
_castanogastris_, suggesting that southeastern Coahuila is in the
region of intergradation between the two races." Aldrich and Duvall
(1955:17) indicated that _squamata_ and _castanogastris_ intergrade
near Sabinas. The two specimens that I have examined show no sign of
approach toward _castanogastris_. More specimens of Scaled Quail from
Coahuila are needed to permit accurate definition of the distribution
of the subspecies.
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