606 AVES— EUROPEAN QUAIL. 



which has a granulated appearance, and between the eye and the ear is a 

 naked skin of a bright scarlet, which is not very conspicuous but in old 

 birds ; on the breast there is a crescent of a deep chesnut color ; the tail is 

 short; tlu legs are of a greenish white, and are furnished with a small knob 

 behind. The bill is of a light brown. The female has no crescenl on the 

 breast, and her colors in general are not so distinct and bright as those of 

 the male. There are generally from ten to fifteen in a covey ; and if unmo- 

 lested, they live from fifteen to seventeen years. 



This bird is found in nearly every part of Europe. The manners of the 

 partridge, in most circumstances, resemble all those of poultry in general ; 

 but their cunning and instinct seem superior. to those of the larger kinds. 

 Perhaps, as they live in the very neighborhood of their enemies, they have 

 more frequent occasion to put their little arts in practice, and learn, by 

 habit, the means of evasion or safety. The affection of the female for her 

 young is peculiarly strong and lively ; she is greatly assisted in the care of 

 rearing them by her mate ; they lead them out in common, call them 

 together, point our to them their proper food, and assist them in finding it, 

 by scratching the ground with their feet. They frequently sit close by each 

 other, covering their young with their wings, like the hen; in this situation 

 they are not easily flushed; but when, at length, they are compelled tc move, 

 the male employs many interesting stratagems, such as fluttering along the 

 ground, hanging his wings, and feigning to be wounded, in order to attract 

 the pursuit of the enemy, and afford to the female an opportunity to escape 

 with her infant brood. Partridges, though tamed when young, will almost 

 invariably return to the wild state. 



THE EUROPEAN QUAIL 1 



Is about half the size cf a partridge. Its flesh is a great delicacy. The 

 feathers of the head are black, edged with rusty brown ; the breast is of a 

 pale yellowish red, spotted with black ; the feathers on the back are marked 

 with lines of pale yellow, and the legs are of a pale hue. 



The quail is by all known to be a bird of passage ; and yet, if we consider 

 its heavy manner of flying, and its dearth of plumage, with respect to its 

 corpulence, we shall be surprised how a bird so apparently ill qualified for 

 migration should take such extensive journeys. Nothing, however, is more 

 certain. "When we sailed from Rhodes to Alexandria," says Bellonius, 

 "about autumn, many quails, flying from the north to the south, were taken 

 in our ship; and sailing at spring time the contrary way, from the south to 

 the north, I observed them on their return, when many of them were taken 

 in the same manner." This account is confirmed by many others; who 



1 Perdix cotwrnis, Lath. 



