CHAPTER LXXVII 



PALLAS SAND-GROUSE AND QUAILS 



Fenmen tel] you of flocks of these birds coming in from 

 the sea at long intervals — flocks of thirty and forty flying 

 in such manner that they think them to be plovers at first 

 sight; but as they draw near, their flight and chatterings 

 soon proclaim them to be sand-grouse. The last invasion 

 was in the summer of 1888, when many birds fell to the 

 share of the professional gunner. I only know of these 

 invasions by hearsay, never even having had a meteoric 

 glimpse of one in the open, such as one has had of so many 

 other birds. 



The Quail 



Has been rarely seen of late years, though old gunners 

 tell me in former days they used to come across them, when 

 they say they " used to get together like partridges, and 

 whistle when they flew up." 



I have never seen the quail in Norfolk, or, indeed, in 

 England, in a wild state ; but, having seen them commonly 

 abroad, I can vouch for the truth of the statement that they 

 get together like partridges — indeed their run is like a 

 partridge, nor are they so shy. 



But in the Broadland generally they are scarce indeed — 

 mere passing visions, seen now and then by the ubiquitous 

 srunner. 



