35G TETRAONID.K. 



mandible but sliglitly bent, the wings pointed, and the legs 

 smooth, or without tubercles ; species belonging to other 

 divisions of the genus have wings rounded in form, with occa- 

 sionally spur-like tubercles upon the legs. 



This bird has generally been considered as a summer 

 visiter only to Great Britain ; but so many instances have 

 latterly been recorded, of its occurrence, in Ireland particu- 

 larly, as well as in England, during the winter months, as to 

 make it appear that a portion of them do not return south- 

 ward in autumn. The Quails arrive from Africa in countless 

 thousands on the numerous islands of the Grecian Archipe- 

 lago about April, and hence, according to Pennant, the warm 

 southerly winds of that month bringing birds to Greece, are 

 called in that country orm'thex. So numerous are they in 

 other countries in the line of their migration, that one hun- 

 dred thousand are recorded to have been taken in one day 

 on the west side of the kingdom of Naples. From thence 

 they spread over southern Europe, migrating every year as 

 far north as Scandinavia and Russia. They arrive in this 

 country in May, and seem more partial to open champaign 

 countries than to those which are enclosed. The males are 

 said to arrive before the females, and advantage is taken of 

 this circumstance by bird-catchers in France, who every year 

 decoy hundreds of dozens of males only into their nets by 

 imitating the call-note of the female. These birds are 

 brought by French dealers in Quails to the London markets 

 in large quantities, and sold to the poulterers for the use of 

 the table ; and on examination of dozens together in the flat 

 cages in which they are carried, it is rare to find a female 

 among them. The birds while in confinement, are fed on 

 hemp seed, and soon become very fat. This particular food 

 is probably also the cause of the darker tone of colour which 

 pervades these birds as compared with those that are killed in 

 a wild and more natural state. The flesh is delicate, and 



