360 TKTRAONID.E. 



SO fatigued, that for the first days tlicy allow themselves to 

 be taken by the hand. Sonnini states that they arrive in 

 Egypt in September. 



With these facts before us, considering the positive tes- 

 timony of the Psalmist that the unexpected supply of food 

 to the Israelites was a bird, and that bird, agreeably to the 

 Septuagint and Josephus, a Quail, that only one species of 

 Quail migrates in prodigious numbers, and that species the 

 subject of the present notice, we are authorized to pronounce 

 the Coturnix dactijlisonans to be the identical species with 

 which the Israelites were fed. We have here proof of the 

 perpetuation of an instinct through -3800 years,* — not per- 

 vading a whole species, but that part of a species existing 

 within certain geographical limits ; an instinct characterised 

 by a peculiarity which modern observers have also noticed, 

 of making their migratory flight by night : " And it came 

 to pass, that at even,-f- the Quails came up and covered the 

 camp.";]: As might be expected, we see the most ancient 

 of all historical works and natural history reflecting attesting 

 lights on each other. 



It is probable that these small defenceless birds fly only 

 by night to avoid the attacks of birds of prey ; in crossing 

 seas, they must of course continue their flight by night as 

 well as by day. I am aware, however, from personal obser- 

 vation, that the Grus Orientalis, whose size secures it from 

 the attacks of other birds, also migrates during the night. 

 M. Temminck thinks it probable that Quails emigrate for 

 food rather than to enjoy a uniform climate ; and in this 

 opinion I coincide, as the great changes of temperature in 

 India do not influence the movements of this species, food 

 being abundant at all seasons. 



I am not aware that this bird is used for combats (although 



* 1491 years before Christ. t Query, " night ■!" 



X Exodus xvi. 13. 



