35^ THE NESTS AND EGGS OE BRITISH BIRDS. 



month. It is said that this species rears two broods in 

 the year, the eggs for the first being laid in April. The 

 ^gZ^ of this Sand Grouse cannot readily be confused 

 with those of any other species breeding in our area, 

 their oval form being very characteristic. 



Family PIT ASIANID.^. Genus Cotuknix. 



Sub-family PERDICIN.E. 



C O M M ON QUAIL. 



CoTURNix COMMUNIS, Bonuaterre. 

 Single Brooded. Laying season, end of May and in June. 



British breeding area : The Quail can nowhere be 

 regarded as an abundant bird in our islands, but is 

 generally distributed throughout their area, even in- 

 cluding such wild districts as the Outer Hebrides, the 

 Orkneys, and the Shetlands, becoming most numerous 

 in the southern and central counties of England. 



Breeding habits : It is most probable that the 

 individual Quails that breed in our islands are summer 

 migrants, the birds that winter with more or less regu- 

 larity in the south and west of England and in Ireland 

 being wanderers from more northern lands. The Quail 

 arrives in our islands in May. Its favourite breeding- 

 grounds are grain lands, hay and clover meadows, and 

 unenclosed areas of rough pasturage. It is much attached 

 to certain haunts, returning to them every season to 

 breed; and it is probably owing to this attachment and 

 to the drainage of so much rougii pasture that it has so 

 perceptibly decreased in numbers during recent }-ears. 

 In some districts the Quail is polygamous, in others 

 monogamous, the excess or rarity of hens apparently 



