1 5 2 British Birds ^ 



districts of the south where it is exceedingly abundant. 

 These birds form a slight nest of dry bents and leaves 

 upon the ground, amid some growing crop of grass or 

 corn. Instances, however, have been asserted in which 

 the nest was a good deal elevated above the ground, 

 as on the top of a stack. The eggs, very hard-shelled, 

 are from ten to fifteen or sixteen in number, of a 

 cream colour, well spotted with small speckles of 

 reddish or cinnamon brown. — Fig. 7, plate VI. 



QUAIL — (Coturnix communis ; formerly, 

 C. vulgaris'). 



The Quail is believed, in some rare instances, to 

 stay with us all the year, but is usually only a 

 summer visitant, not coming in any great numbers. 

 In some countries its migratory hosts are so great that 

 one hundred thousand are said to have been taken in 

 a day. In its appearance, the Quail strongly reminds 

 one of the Partridge, and suggests the idea that itself 

 is only a diminutive bird of that species. It has been 

 said that they do not pair, still they have been re- 

 peatedly seen in apparent pairs. And one couple 

 which haunted my garden and the neighbouring fields 

 for many days could only have been regarded as having 

 " paired," and their nests are met with in many parts 

 of the kingdom. Two years since it was believed that 

 at least two broods were reared on certain lands in 

 Moorsholm, in North Yorkshire. A small depression 

 in the ground is made, or found, and loosely lined with 

 bits of grass and dry stalks. Seven to ten, or possibly 

 yet more eggs, are laid, presenting much variety of 

 appearance, but usually of a faint cream-coloured 



