170 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



into their ancestral domains. Some portions of 

 those counties are fortunately exempt from them, 

 while in others they have increased to such a de- 

 gree as to expel the old English or cinereous par- 

 tridge, and being excessively wild and diflBcult 

 to flush, they run before the dogs for miles, and 

 severely test the patience and temper of the 

 sportsman. 



The quail (Coturnix vulgaris) is only an au- 

 tumnal migratory visitor to Sussex. I never 

 met with a bevy in any part of the county, al- 

 though I have occasionally killed a few stragglers 

 when partridge-shooting in September. In some 

 districts of England they would appear to be 

 comparatively numerous, and in Ireland I have 

 found them abundant in the King's County 

 during the winter. They appeared partial to 

 backward oat-stubbles on poor swampy soils just 

 verging on the borders of the great red bogs. 

 After the first flight they generally lay well: 

 the grand point was to drive them towards the 

 bog, and if possible to scatter them over its sur- 

 face. What capital sport they then afforded in 

 combination with snipe, plover, teal, and wild 

 ducks, the natural denizens of the swamp, which 

 usually contributed to my bag on such occasions ! 



On certain portions of the Downs of Sussex the 

 pursuit of the partridge partakes almost of the 



