THE QUAIL. 123 



some time, one bird ran off to a considerable distance, 

 and was followed closely by his "antagonist, when they 

 wheeled about, and returned to the same spot, where 

 they renewed the fight with increasing vigor ; then, in 

 turn, the other bird acted in a similar manner, by running 

 away, being chased by his antagonist ; and in this way 

 the battle was protracted for half an hour, and until the 

 contending parties became so exhausted, that our friend 

 put an end to the contest, by making them prisoners. 



The Quail, like all the rest of the gallinaceous order, 

 flies with a loud whirring sound, occasioned by the short- 

 ness, concavity, and rapid motion of its wings, and the 

 comparative weight of its body. The steadiness of its 

 horizontal flight, however, renders it no difficult mark for 

 the sportsman, particularly when assisted by his sagacious 

 pointer. The flesh of this bird is peculiarly white, tender, 

 and delicate, unequalled, in these qualities, by that of any 

 other of its genus in the United States. 



The Quail, as it is called in New England, or the Par- 

 tridge, as in Pennsylvania, is nine inches long, and four- 

 teen inches in extent ; and will usually weigh from 

 seven to eight, and sometimes nine ounces, each ; the 

 bill is black ; line over the eye, down the neck, and 

 whole chin, pure white, bounded by a band of black, 

 which descends, and spreads broadly over the throat ; 

 the eye is dark hazel ; the crown, neck, and upper part 

 of the breast, red brown ; sides of the neck spotted with 

 white and black, on a reddish brown ground ; back, 

 scapulars, and lesser coverts, red brown, intermixed 

 with ash, and sprinkled with black ; tertials edged with 

 yellowish white ; wings plain and dusky ; lower part 

 of the breast and belly, pale yellowish white ; beautifully 

 marked with numerous curving spots, or arrow heads, of 

 black ; tail ash, sprinkled with reddish brown ; legs very- 

 pale ash. 



