Nob Faruey, Ornithology at St. Marks. 173 
bird’s back also is as well shown by the tessere as if done in pig- 
ment. A bird of long and famous history — and of early game law 
as well as myth — is Phasianus colchicus. The Argonauts brought 
him home along with the fleece and other spoil from the banks of 
the river Phasis in Colchis where in the swampy woods that border 
the stream the bird may be found to-day “as wild as a hawk’’ — 
in strong contrast to the semi-domesticated fowl of English covers. 
It is not impossible that this native of Asia Minor was introduced 
into Europe a dozen centuries before Christ. Certain it is that 
the Pheasant was naturalized at a very remote age to the west of its 
original habitat. It was well-known in Italy in the comparatively 
recent period of the Middle Ages, and was a table-bird in England 
before the Norman Conquest — as at Waltham Abbey where unus 
phasianus, as the substitute for two partridges, was permitted to 
the canons by Harold’s bill of fare. Very likely the Romans brought 
the bird to Britain for they sometimes naturalized “strange ani- 
mals” in the countries they conquered. 
Still another very well-known food-bird of the Old World (highly 
esteemed for the table in the days of Moses and ever since) which if 
not “as big as life and twice as natural”’ is nevertheless so vividly 
pictured that even the tourist who runs may read, is the Migratory 
Quail, Coturnix coturnix. It is impossible to fail to identify this 
little, plump, brown pair, with their buffy breasts and variegated 
backs, as the Quail of Holy Writ. Strange indeed if the artist had 
forgotten in his feathered throng at the door of the Ark a bird so 
famous in Biblical story. Ranging over such an enormous area as 
Europe, Africa and much of Asia, the Quail was as well-known to 
the nations of antiquity as the Eagle and the Crane. Well-named 
“Migratory” it vies with the Swallow in crossing seas, deserts and 
lofty mountain chains. 
The trusting expectant air with which these little, obedient fowl 
look up into the face of Noah as they await their turn at his hands 
is very naive. 
It should be observed that the bills and the feet of the Quail 
are red — which is an ornithological inaccuracy. But it will be 
noted how often in these mosaic-pictures red inaccurately appears 
on foot or bill. It is evident that the mosaicist deliberately availed 
himself of the vivid color (whether right or wrong) as the best way 
