120 BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



somewhat restricted, although including much of the 

 south-east of England, notably East Anglia, must preclude 

 more than a mention of the species here. The extremely 

 variegated plumage of the adults makes them quite un- 

 mistakable ; but young birds are frequently thought to be 

 hybrids between this and the preceding species. The eggs 

 are of a yellowish colour, spotted with reddish brown. 



THE QUAIL 



(Coturnix communis). 



The Quail scarcely requires to be described, but we 

 may notice that it is in many ways a miniature Partridge. 

 The cock is rather smaller than his mate. The Quail is 

 notably migratory ; some individuals may remain with us 

 during the mild winters, but the species is chiefly a summer 

 visitor to the British Isles, over which it is well but locally 

 distributed. In Scotland it is very local ; but the localities 

 are widespread, including at times the Hebrides and 

 Shetland. The numbers vary greatly from season to 

 season ; great increases sometimes occur and affect several 

 successive seasons. But there has also been a great per- 

 manent falling off" in numbers. This is not traceable to 

 local influences to any extent, and is probably a con- 

 sequence of the wholesale netting that goes on in the 

 south of Europe. Thousands are brought alive in little 

 cages to London, Paris, Vienna, and other cities, for table 

 purposes, from the countries where this bird is an 

 abundant and familiar migrant. As one writer puts it, 

 'Immense flocks annually visit the countries bordering on 

 the Mediterranean ; especially on the spring migration, 

 when, as of old in Sinai, multitudes come up in the night 

 and cover the land.' 



