370 TETRAONID^. 



the coast, in the month of May," says M. Pellicot, " I saw 

 some boats come in with ten or a dozen sharks. They 

 were all opened before me, and there was not one wliich 

 had not from eight to twelve Quails in its body." " Enor- 

 mous flights are annually observed at the spring and fall, 

 after crossing an immense surface of sea, to take a brief 

 repose in the islands of Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, Crete, in 

 the kingdom of Naples, and about Constantinople, where, 

 on these occasions, there is a general shooting match, which 

 lasts two or three days. This occurs always in the autumn. 

 The birds, starting from the Crimea about seven at night, 

 and with a northerly wind, before dawn accomplish a 

 passage of above sixty leagues in breadth, and ahght on 

 the southern shore to feed and repose. In the vernal 

 season the direction of the flight is reversed, and they 

 arrive in similar condition on the Eussian coast. The 

 same phenomena occur in Malta, &c."* 



On its arrival, the Quail betakes itseK to open plains 

 and rich grassy meadows, especially where the soil- is 

 calcareous, and avoids woody countries. Dui^ing the early 

 part of summer it frequents cornfields, saintfoin, and 

 lucern. In September it is found in stubble and clover 

 fields, and among the weeds growing in dry ponds, 

 or it finds shelter in any crops which may yet remain 

 standing. In warm countries it resorts to vineyards, 

 attracted, it is said, not so much by the grapes as by the 

 numerous small snails with which the vines are then 

 infested ; for the crops of the late birds are generally found 

 filled with these mollusks. In locomotion it makes more 

 use of its feet than its wings, and wheii put up is never 

 induced to perch on a tree. Its flight resembles in charac- 

 ter that of the Partridge, but it rarely flies far, and when 

 it ahghts makes awkward attempts to conceal itself, but 

 often fails, and may sometimes be captured mth the hand. 

 In June or July the female lays from eight to fourteeu 



♦ Colonel C. H.Smith. 



