OUAIL 



19 



England, Wales, and Scotland, extending as far north as the Hebrides, 

 Orkneys, and Shetland, and even at the present day it is recorded 

 now and again from nmany parts of the country, especially in the south. 

 In warmer countries the spring migration commences in March and 

 April, but the birds do not reach Great Britain till May, returning 

 south in September and October. For the range of the quail the 

 reader must refer to other works, but it may be mentioned that at 

 certain seasons these birds are to be met with in incredible numbers in 

 India and Egypt, where they afford excellent sport. 



QUAIL. 



By Linnaeus the quail was named Tetrao coturnix, and by those 

 who see no absurdity in tautology it is accordingly now termed 

 Coturnix coturnix, rather than Coturnix coiiummis. It is the typical 

 representative of a genus ranging over the warmer parts of the whole 

 of the eastern hemisphere and including half-a-dozen species, all of 

 which are of small size. The tail, which contains either ten or twelve 

 feathers, is so short as to be concealed by the tail-coverts, the legs are 

 without spurs, and the two sexes differ somewhat in plumage. The 

 South African quail ((T. africaims) is so closely allied to the typical 

 species that it may almost be regarded as a non-migratory local race 

 of the same. 



In general colouring and appearance a quail is very like a partridge, 

 from which of course it differs by its greatly inferior size, as it does 

 not exceed 7 inches in length. Adult cocks may be recognised by 



