THE QUAIL 71 



proceed to spread themselves over the land, each appropriating to 

 himself as much territory as he can conveniently hold. Then, 

 apparently, each begins to challenge his neighbour as if eager to try 

 conclusions with him, in the hope that presently he may annex both 

 his territory and his prospective mate. The challenge, a curiously 

 insistent and metallic "click-a-lik, dick-a-lik" is kept up until sooner 

 or later one or other is sufficiently infuriated to charge upon his 

 neighbour. The fight seems to differ in no way from that described 

 in the case of the partridge, save that it is more sustained, and carried 

 on more fiercely; so much so, that it can end only when both are 

 exhausted, or one is killed. 



After such fashion, it would seem, the fates determine whether 

 the victor shall, for that season at any rate, be a polygamist, or shall 

 conform to what is perhaps the more expedient rule of monogamy. 

 At any rate, all authorities seem to agree that the quail in its 

 marital relations may follow either custom. Another determining 

 factor, no doubt, is the relative numbers of either sex which succeed 

 in escaping the diabolical persecution which is meted out to them 

 on migration by " civilised " man. 



The duties of incubation fall, apparently, to the female alone, 

 who is a close sitter, so much so that, if carefully approached, she may 

 be stroked or even fed upon the nest. But so soon as the eggs are 

 hatched, the male comes eagerly forward to do his share in guarding 

 and fending for the brood. Two broods or " bevies " may be reared in 

 a season. 



And now as to the scarcity of quail in our islands to-day. In the 

 latter part of the eighteenth century these birds were fairly abundant ; 

 some remained throughout the year, and the numbers were largely 

 reinforced by immigrants in May. In such plenty did they occur 

 that large numbers were snared and netted by fowlers, who lured both 

 males and females by a marvellously faithful imitation of their call. 

 To-day, as we have already remarked, this charming little bird- 

 delicious some would say is so rare that the taking of specimens 



