218 THE QUAIL. 



eggs at a time, which are about the size of a common 

 hen's ; she generally lays them upon dry ground ; and, 

 when compelled to seek for food, covers them carefully 

 with moss. As soon as the young ones are hatched 

 they follow their mother, who soon teaches them to 

 search for ants' eggs and mountain-berries for food. 



THE QUAIL. 



With the quail we shall conclude the history of the 

 poultry species, and then direct our attention to a more 

 irregular tribe. The quail is allowed not to be above 

 half the size of a partridge ; and the feathers upon the 

 head are black, edged with a rusty brown ; the breast 

 is of a pale yellowish red, spotted with black ; the 

 back is marked with lines of a feint yellow, and the leg? 

 are of a pale hue. 



That the quail is a bird of passage has been com- 

 pletely ascertained ; and Bellonius informs us, that 

 when he sailed from Rhodes to Alexandria, in the time 

 of autumn, the quails flew from the northern to the 

 southern part of the globe, and were taken in passing 

 over the ship. He likewise adds, that the same cir- 

 cumstance occurred in spring, when these birds flew 

 in a contrary direction, and took their flight from a 

 southern to a northern shore. 



Notwithstanding the account of this creditable au- 

 thor, many naturalists are of opinion that they do not 

 migrate very far, but merely quit the inland counties, 

 and shelter themselves amongst the weeds upon the 

 sea-shore. The flesh of this bird is considered as a 

 great delicacy, and the method of obtaining them is 

 generally by a net. The female never lays more than 

 six or seven eggs, of a whitish colour, with rusty-look* 

 ing spots, 



