178 THE COMMON QUAIL. 



in 1825, in Upper Tellemarken, at the northern end of the 

 Lake Tindsjoen. During the years 1831-33, they were 

 very abundant in the neighbourhood of Christiania." In 

 the Danish islands, Kjgerbolling tells us, this bird is pretty 

 numerous during the summer months. It arrives there 

 in May, and departs again in October. 



The Quail has a very wide geographical range, being 

 generally scattered over Asia, Africa, and the southern 

 parts of Europe ; but it seems to be scarce in more 

 temperate climes. 



To describe so well-known a bird would be superfluous, 

 it being depicted in the drawing at the commence- 

 ment of this chapter. It may suffice to say that it is 

 the smallest of the genus Ferclix, its extreme length 

 being from seven to eight inches. 



It is spoken of by Northern ornithologists as a sprightly, 

 restless, and shy bird. Its flight is rapid, and near the 

 ground, but only for short distances. It runs very fast, 

 and to escape its enemies trusts more to its legs than to 

 its wings ; indeed, excepting during migration, it rarely 

 flies, and then only when one comes suddenly upon it. It 

 is said that, if pursued by a dog or bird of prey, it hides 

 its head in a hole, and then believes itself in safety. Its 

 call-note, 2)ick wercich, i^ick loervlck, often repeated ten to 

 twelve times in quick succession, is heard both by day and 

 by night, more especially if the weather be fine. 



The Quail, as regards Scandinavia, is seldom met with 

 except in the open country. Extensive and unenclosed 

 tracts of arable land are its favourite resorts. Wooded 

 districts, or anything resembling bush, it would seem 

 sedulously to avoid. Its food consists of various kinds of 

 grain, seeds, green herbs, grasses, insects, larvae, &c. 



Nilsson informs us that " the Quail lives in monogamy, 

 in like manner as the Partridge," which is somewhat at 

 variance with what we are told by other writers, both 



