THE QUAIL 247 



respected little russet-coloured partridge, driving 

 the latter altogether out of the field. For ordinary 

 shooting or for edible purposes, it is of little 

 value, but is said to afford good sport when 

 ' driven,' being less liable to turn from the guns 

 than the common partridge. The introduction of 

 these French partridges into this country has 

 proved anything but advantageous, since no one 

 desires its presence, and, like many other 

 nuisances, it thrives uncommonly well. In size 

 it is larger by an inch and a half than the English 

 bird. Its habits are also somewhat diverse from 

 the latter, and it prefers to run rather than fly. 

 It is also said to perch in a tree, or on the top 

 of a tall hedge, when forced to rise. French 

 partridges, though they are more common in 

 the Eastern counties, are to be found in greater 

 or less numbers throughout this country. The 

 call-note is unlike that of the common partridge, 

 being somewhat similar to that of the quail. 



The quail is the only migrant of all our British 

 game-birds ; it visits this country in the spring and 

 remains until October. In some seasons these 

 birds are very plentiful, and then, perhaps for 

 several years in succession, but few of them 

 make their appearance. In 1870 there was a 

 considerable influx of quail, and several were shot 

 in Hampshire during that season. A few years 

 ago we were favoured with another, though less 

 remarkable, visitation. Where quails are abun- 

 dant they afford excellent sport, for, though they 



