QUAIL 243 



This notwithstanding, the fact still remains that these 

 migratory game-birds do not now visit this country in 

 such numbers as formerly. It is apparent that a dry 

 England is more appreciated by quail than is a wet 

 England, for in dry summers they are met with, and 

 rear their broods in many districts in this country, where 

 they are unknown in wet summers. Then, too, after 

 nesting they spread themselves over a wider area, and 

 are thus much more frequently found by the partridge- 

 shooter in September. The year 1893 will be remem- 

 bered by many game-shooters as an exceptional year for 

 quail. The summer of that year was remarkably dry, 

 and these birds were both numerous and remained later 

 than usual, many staying throughout October, and in 

 some districts well into November before departing 

 southward for the winter. Quail had a remarkably wide 

 range in Great Britain in 1893, they then being seen and 

 shot in most counties from Cornwall to Suffolk, and from 

 the Isle of Wight to Perthshire. 



Explicit directions for the shooting of quail need not be 

 offered, for the simple reason that at the present time there 

 are no places in this country where they may be system- 

 atically followed. If one could insure finding quail at 

 any time, I should recommend charges of No. 7 shot and 

 a steady, close-ranging pointer as the most effectual means 

 for bringing these birds to bag. As, however, we cannot 

 rely upon meeting with them just how and where we 

 want, I would say that ordinary loads used for par- 

 tridge-shooting may suffice whenever quail are sprung. 



It would be well if our migratory game-birds quail, 

 woodcock, snipe and landrail, possibly, also, certain 

 wild-fowl such as brent and grey geese, wigeon and 

 other ducks, plover, curlew, etc. could be protected 



