218 131HTISH ]3IEnS' NESTS. 



North of Scotland, and in suitable places roiiud 

 the Irish coast. 



Materials. — Occasionally a few bits of grass, 

 feathers, or roots ; often nothing whatever. 



Egg. — One ; dull white or grey,*^ marked with 

 a few indistinctly defined spots of pale brown and 

 grey, generally at the larger end. They soon 

 become soiled and dirty from contact with their 

 surroundings. Size about 2-4z by 1'67 in. 



Time. — May and June. 



BeinarJxs. — Migratory, arriving in April and de- 

 parting in August. More northern breeding birds 

 winter with us. Notes, o-r-)- to a-r-i-, according 

 to the bird's state of mind. Local and other 

 names : Tammy Norrie, Coulter-Neb, Sea Parrot, 

 Tommy Tomnoddy, Ailsa-Cock, Cockandy, Lunda 

 Bonger, Gulderhead, Bottlenose, Pope, Marrot, 

 Mullet. Sits closely. 



QUAIL. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about 

 seven inches. Beak rather short, strong, slightly 

 curved, and dusky. Irides hazel. A broadish, pale 

 wood-brown streak commences at the base of the 

 beak, and passes over the eye and ear-coverts. 

 The crown is also divided by a much narrower 

 streak of the same colour. The feathers of the 

 head, neck, back, rump, and tail are brown, with 

 lighter coloured shafts and longitudinal streaks of 

 wood-brown. Wing-quills dusky brown, with small 

 rust-coloured bands on the outer webs. Chin and 

 throat white, crossed by two dark brown gorgets ; 

 breast pale rusty brown with lighter shafts ; under- 

 parts yellowish-white ; flank-feathers pale buff in 



