168 REMINISCENCES OF A SPORTSMAN. 



England, I never found but one bevy of quails, which 

 was in the extensive open corn country on the south- 

 west side of the town of Dorchester in Dorsetshire. 

 There were in this bevy four brace and a half ; and I 

 think I shot all but two. Quails lie close, fly straight, 

 and rather near the ground, and they are an easy shot 

 if let to go a proper distance. I have sometimes found 

 a brace, and now and then a single bird, in the open 

 corn fields in Oxfordshire, near the small town of Wat- 

 lington, and it is to be regretted that they have become 

 so scarce in this country, as they afford, what is so 

 agreeable to the sportsman, a variety in his day's shoot- 

 ing, and besides they are a delicate bird for the table, 

 and great numbers are brought alive in the summer to 

 our all- devouring capital from France. When I was 

 stationed with my regiment in the island of Malta, in 

 1809, considerable flights of quails made this island a 

 half-way house to rest themselves in the autumn on 

 their passage to Sicily and the coast of Naples ; and 

 although the heat is excessive at this season*, I could 

 not resist going out quail shooting, and I sometimes 

 had my game-bag well filled, but I subsequently paid 

 rather dearly for indulging in this diversion during 

 the heat of the day, by getting a low fever, from which 



* The late LordB}Ton, in his poem entitled "Adieu to Malta," calls it 

 a little military hot-house. I knew his lordship intimately. He was an 

 honorary member of the mess of my regiment. At times he was a most 

 delighful companion at the mess table, and as meny and fi.ill of life as 

 the youngest ensign. The next day he did not appear to be the same 

 man, thoughtful, gloomy, and silent. When he landed at Malta, the 

 late Governor, General Sir Hildebrand Cakes, offered him apartments in 

 his palace, which he politely declined. He then took lodgings, and pre- 

 ferred living with our regiment. Liberty and independence were the 

 idols of this great poet and eccentric character. 



