492 OUAIL. 



as far north as lat. 65° on the Continent, while southwards it becomes 

 more abundant, and immense flocks annually visit the countiies 

 bordering on the Mediterranean, especially on the spring migration ; 

 upwards of 160,000 birds having been netted in a single season on 

 the small island of Capri, in the bay of Naples. The majority pass 

 northwards, but many remain to breed, and a considerable number 

 pass the winter in the south of Europe and North Africa, while in 

 the Canaries, Madeira and the Azores the species is resident. 

 Males from the last have a strong tinge of red on the throat- 

 patch, and examples obtained in Spain &c. during the winter, are 

 smaller in size and darker in colour than those which arrive from 

 Africa in spring; but space will not allow of further remarks upon the 

 numerous variations. On passage it reaches the extreme south of 

 Africa by the latter part of August, and some are stationary there, 

 nesting in December ; it occurs in Madagascar and Mauritius, 

 and can be traced northward again to Egypt ; while in Palestine, 

 as of old, the Quails come up in the night and cover the land. 

 Across temperate Asia it is generally distributed, breeding as far 

 south as Cashmere, and crossing the Karakoram (16,000 ft.) and 

 other ranges, on its way to India, where, as well as in China, it passes 

 the cold season. Insular forms inhabit Japan and Formosa. 



The nest — a mere hole scraped in the ground, lined with a few 

 plant-stalks — is usually in a wheat-field, but sometimes in clover or 

 grass ; and the eggs, 712 in number, are yellowish-white, blotched or 

 speckled with umber-brown: average measurements i"i by 'gin. 

 Incubation lasts about three weeks, and two broods, or bevies as 

 they are called, are sometimes reared in the season. The food 

 consists of slugs and insects, plantain, chickweed &c. — no less than 

 3.500 seeds of the latter having been found in the crop of a single 

 bird. The male utters a shrill triple note, which is generally ren- 

 dered in this country by the words '• wet-my-lips ; " as a rule he is 

 monogamous. 



In appearance the Quail resembles a miniature Partridge. The 

 male (represented in the foreground) is smaller than the female (in the 

 background), and has two dark brown bands descending from the 

 ear-coverts, terminating at the throat in a blackish patch which is 

 not acquired until the second year. Length 7 in. ; wing 4*5 in. 



Two examples of the Andalucian Hemipode, Tiirnix sylvatica, are 

 said to have been obtained in Oxfordshire, and a third in York- 

 shire. No one who knows how sedentary and local this species is, 

 will believe it to be a genuine visitor. 



