QUAIL. RASORES. PERDIX 439 



pected, and the inhabitants are represented as taking parti- 

 cular delight in the sport of shooting them ; the shores being 

 at this particular time lined with people carrying fowling- 

 pieces, and the strait covered with boats similarly filled, all 

 eagerly watching for the arrival of their spoil. In France 

 great numbers are taken alive by means of a call made to 

 imitate their whistle, and which entices them under a net ; 

 but by this device males only are taken, thus accounting for 

 the few female specimens to be found amongst the many 

 hundreds kept in confinement by the London poulterers, and 

 which are received from France. 



Quails are naturally very pugnaceous, and will fight with 

 determined resolution in the manner of our game cocks ; they 

 were kept for this express purpose by the Greeks and Ro- 

 mans, who delighted in the amusement ; and the fighting of 

 quails still continues to be a favourite pastime with the Chi- 

 nese. These birds feed on grain, and seeds of various kinds ; Food. 

 as well as upon insects and worms. In confinement they are 

 principally fed with hemp-seed, upon which diet they soon 

 become loaded with fat, and are esteemed delicious eating. 



PLATE 62. Natural size. 



Bill blackish-grey. Crown of the head, occiput, and nape General 

 of the neck, black ; the feathers margined with chestnut- descrip- 

 brown. Down the middle of the head and neck is a Male, 

 cream-yellow streak. Over each eye, and proceeding 

 down the neck, is a white streak. Space between the 

 bill and eyes and ear-coverts pale chestnut-brown. Chin 

 and throat, and streaks turning upwards towards the 

 ear-coverts, chestnut-brown, mixed with blackish-brown; 

 the rest of the neck and cheeks white. Back, scapulars, 

 and wing-coverts, black ; the feathers margined and va- 

 ried with brown ; and each having its shaft and central 

 parts sienna.yellow. Breast and belly pale buff-orange ; 

 the shafts and margins of the feathers yellowish-white. 

 Flanks having the feathers similar in disposition of co- 



