418 TETRAONIDJl. 



Temminck says that in spring such prodigious numbers of 

 Quails alight on the western shores of the kingdom of 

 Naples, about Nettuno, that one hundred thousand are 

 taken in a day. They also arrive in spring in similar num- 

 bers on the shores of Provence, so fatigued, that for the 

 first days they allow themselves to be taken by the hand. 

 Sonnini states that they arrive in Egypt in September. 



With these facts before us, considering the positive tes- 

 timony of the Psalmist that the unexpected supply of food 

 to the Israelites was a bird, and that bird, agreeably to the 

 Septuagint and Josephus, a Quail, that only one species of 

 Quail migrates in prodigious numbers, and that species the 

 subject of the present notice, we are authorised to pro- 

 nounce the Coturnix dactylisonans to be the identical 

 species with which the Israelites were fed. We have 

 here proof of the perpetuation of an instinct through 3300 

 years,* not pervading a whole species, but that part of 

 a species existing within certain geographical limits ; an 

 instinct characterised by a peculiarity which modern ob- 

 servers have also noticed, of making their migratory flight 

 by night ; " And it came to pass, that at evenf the 

 Quails came up, and covered the camp." J As might be 

 expected, we see the most ancient of all historical works 

 and natural history reflecting attesting lights on each other. 



It is probable that these small defenceless birds fly only 

 by night, to avoid the attacks of birds of prey ; in crossing 

 seas, they must of course continue their flight by night as 

 well as by day. I am aware, however, from personal ob- 

 servation, that the Grus Orientalis, whose size secures it 

 from the attacks of other birds, also migrates during the 

 night. M. Temminck thinks it probable that Quails 

 emigrate for food rather than to enjoy a uniform climate ; 



* 1491 years before Christ. f Query "oighU" 



Exodus xvi. 13. 



