192 THE COMMON QUAIL. 



It is sometimes seen by Partridge shooters in Septem- 

 ber, its flight being quick, and generally straight and low. 

 While shooting at Eentonhall, near Haddington, in Septem- 

 ber 1869, I found a Quail amongst some standing barley; 

 and I have seen bevies in the rye fields near Orleans in 

 France, where the cry of this bird is thought to resemble 

 the words " paye tes dettes ! " M. Holland mentions that 

 poachers in France employ an instrument made of the skin 

 of a mole to imitate its cry. " On appelle courcaillet un 

 instrument dont se servent les braconniers pour attirer les 

 cailles. II est form(^ d'une peau de taupe cousue comme 

 une outre et a laquelle est adaptee une sorte de sifflet. 

 Cette peau etant gonflee au moyen de la bouche, on imite 

 parfaitement, par une pression particuliere des doigts, le 

 chant de la caille."^ 



The food of the Quail consists of seeds of various 

 kinds, including those of the chickweed, dock, and plan- 

 tain, as well as grain ; and it also eats many kinds of 

 insects. 



It generally makes its nest in a corn or grass field, 

 scraping a slight hollow in the ground, and lining it with 

 a little dry grass. The eggs, which are from seven to 

 twelve in number, are yellowish-white, blotched with dark- 

 brown. 



It has long been esteemed an excellent bird for the 

 table. Its price was fixed at " twa pennies " by the 

 Scottish Parliament in 1551 ; and it is associated with 

 " sum daintie fair " in the following advice by Macrell to 

 the Madyn : — 



Than tak to stanche your morning drouth, 

 Ane cup of mavesie for your mouth, 

 For sume cast sucker in at south, 

 Togidder with a toist : 



1 Faune Populaire de la France, Eugene Rolland, tome ii., "Les Oiseaux 

 Sauvages," p. 340. 



