PHASIANIDiE, 



491 



THE QUAIL. 

 CoTURNix COMMUNIS, Bonnatcrre. 



The Quail is principally a spring-visitor to this country, and 

 the majority leave for the south in October ; but in mild winters 

 some remain with us — especially on the west coast of England, 

 and still more so in Ireland. In the latter, indeed, this species is 

 partially resident, though of late years a marked and unaccountable 

 diminution in its numbers has been noticed. In England, before 

 drainage and high cultivation had broken up the coarse tussocky 

 land in which it delighted, it was far more plentiful than it is at 

 present, particularly in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Sufifolk, 

 Norfolk, Lincolnshire &c. ; but from time to time an unusual 

 influ.x takes place, such as extended in 1870 from East Anglia 

 to Cardigan, Pembroke and Cornwall; while in 1885 a remark- 

 able increase was noticed on the high ground along the north 

 side of the valley ' of the Thames and as far as the Severn. 

 Northward, the Quail gradually becomes less numerous, yet nests 

 have been found in Scotland as far as Caithness, Sutherland, the 

 Orkneys and the Shetlands, several times in the Outer Hebrides, 

 and not unfreciuently in the south-west of the mainland. 



In summer tlie Quail is found in the Fteroes, and, though sparingly. 



