QUAIL SnOOTISG. 



game Thus equipped, they sally forth; and as they proceed 

 through the different covers they use calls for such birds as gene 

 raUy resort there, which from constant practice is well known to 



«& fi'^ ^H' ^""'"^^^ tJieircaU they prepare accordingly for 

 catching them. Supposing it to be a bevy of quails, they continue 

 calling them until hey get quite close; they then arm the top of 

 their rod mtha feather smeared mth bird-lime, and pass it through 

 the loop-hole m then: frame of ambush, and to which they continue 

 adding other parts, until they have five or six out, which they use 

 ^v\^''^?;* ^^^}^'^}}y' ^^?, touch one of the quails with a feather 

 which adheres to them : they then withdraw the rod, arm it again, 

 and touch three or four more in the same manner, before they 

 attempt to snare any of them." vxv c tucjr 



The quail lays more eggs in some countries than in others. In 

 Italy and J^ ranee, from fifteen to twenty is the average number; 

 but m hotter sections of the Asiatic and African continents, twenty! 

 bje and thirty are sometimes found in one nest. This large number 

 Dt eggs accounts m some measure for their great numbers. Some 

 sportsmen mamtam, that they hatch twice a year; but this does 

 QOt seem to be a well established fact. "Where a second bevy of 

 auails niay have been met with, it has, perhaps, been the result of 

 accident, and not fau-ly ascribable to any general law of increase, 

 inis subject IS touched upon m a communication inserted intheiV^?^ 

 ^porhnff Magazine, vol. v., wherein it is said, " This place" (the Isle 

 ■A Ihanet) was formerly so famous for them" (quails), "either from 

 .ts vicinity to the French shore, or the quantity of grain which is 

 3ultivated that people come from great distances for the express 

 purpose ot quail shootmg; of late years, however, their numbers 

 lave considerably decreased, but still the sportsmen in the begin- 

 nng ol September, may commonly kill from two to three brace a 

 lay. Along the banks of the Thames, below Purfleet, several 

 armers and sportsmen have assured me, that about the beginning 

 )t JNovember, a tune at wliich the departure of the main body has 

 ;aken place, a small number of quails make their appearance, and 

 jpntmue durmg the wmter always at a short distance from the 

 •iver s edge ; these are evidently the young birds of the second 

 )evy, who, for some reason, seek that particular situation after the 

 mgration of the rest of theii- species." 



Qiiail shooting is chiefly confined in Britain to some particular 

 lections of it : to the counties of Essex, Kent, Cambridgeshire, 

 sujoll^, and Norfolk. The bevies seldom exceed ten in number, 

 md are generally under that figure. They are to be found in the 

 ivemngs feedmg in corn-fields, and sometimes they lie remarkably 

 itm and may readily be approached, and at other times they are as 

 ^d as possible. A steady dog is indispensable ; but it must be 

 Remarked, _ by way of caution, that most dogs are apt to be spoiled 

 or some time after they have been emploved in tracing these bii-ds. 

 common partridge shot is recommended, but some quail shooters 

 )refer No. 7. 



