THE QUAIL.] 



SHOOTING, 



[quail SHOOTINa. 



evening, and had regular combats with them at 

 places adapted for the purpose. Scaliger in- 

 forms us, that the Italians have costly gardens 

 purposely laid out to hunt them, by means of 

 quail-pipes, with which they pursue the birds 

 as a great amusement. 



In some countries the quail is said to be 

 more prolific than in others. In Italy and 

 Prance, from fifteen to twenty is a common 

 produce ; but, in hotter climates, twenty-five 

 and thirty are sometimes found in one nest. 

 This large number of eggs accounts, in some 

 degree, for the numbers of the birds. Some 

 sportsmen maintain that they hatch twice a 

 year ; but this does not appear to be satisfac- 

 torily proved. This subject is touched upon in 

 a communication inserted in the Neio Sporting 

 Magazine, vol. v. ; wherein it is said — " This 

 place (the Isle of Thanet) was formerly so 

 famous for them (quails), either from its 

 vicinity to the Erench shore, or the quantity 

 of grain which is cultivated, that people come 

 from great distances for the express purpose of 

 quail shooting ; of late years, however, their 

 numbers have considerably decreased ; but still 

 the sportsmen, in the beginning of September, 

 may commonly kill from two to three brace a 

 day. Along the banks of the Thames, below 

 Purfleet, several farmers and sportsmen have 

 assured us, that, about the beginning of No- 

 vember, a time at which the departure of the 

 main body has taken place, a small number of 

 quails make their appearance, and continue 

 during the wintei*, always at a short distance 

 from the river's edge ; these are evidently 

 the young birds of the second bevy, who, for 

 some reason, seek that particular situation 

 after the migration of the rest of their species." 



Pespecting the abundance of these birds in 

 the East, we find it related in a work, entitled 

 Letters from, the Campagne Felice, that, during 

 the time when the Capitani Bey blockaded 

 the harbour of Alexandria, one of his Greek 

 seamen caught two or three that had perched 

 on the rigging of the ship. They were pre- 

 sented to the capitani ; and he was so pleased 

 with them, that he oftered a piastre for every 

 one that should be brought him. The price 

 "vas a great temptation; and, in a few days, 



the sailors found means to cover the rigging 

 with flocks of quails. Every one caught, was, 

 as a matter of course, brought to the capitani, 

 who, to escape impending ruin, was forced to 

 stand out to sea, or break the promise he had 

 made to the captors of the birds. He pre- 

 ferred the former alternative. 



Quail shooting is, in this country, principally 

 confined to the counties of Essex, K.eut, Cam- 

 bridge, Sufi"olk, and Norfolk ; and the bevies 

 seldom exceed ten in number, and are gene- 

 rally under that figure. They are to be found 

 in the evenings, feeding in corn-fields ; and 

 sometimes they lie remarkably still, and may be 

 readily approached. At other times, however, 

 they are as wild as possible. A steady dog is 

 indispensable ; but it must be remarked, by 

 way of caution, that most dogs are apt to be 

 spoiled for some time after they have been em- 

 ployed in tracing these birds. Common par- 

 tridge shot is recommended; but some quail 

 shooters prefer No. 7. 



These birds usually sleep during the day, 

 concealed in the tallest grass, lying on their 

 sides, with their legs extended, in the same 

 spot, even for hours together. So very indo- 

 lent are they, that a dog will sometimes abso- 

 lutely run upon them before they are flushed ; 

 and when they are forced to take wing, they 

 seldom fly far. They are easily drawn within 

 reach of a net, by a call imitating their cry, 

 which is not unlike the words loliit, ivliif, loliit : 

 this is done with an instrument called a quail- 

 pipe. 



Great numbers of these birds are imported 

 from Prance, for the table ; all oi which are 

 males. They are conveyed in large square 

 boxes, divided into five or six compartments, 

 one above another, just high enough to admit 

 of their standing upright. Each of these boxes 

 contains about a hundred. "Were the birds 

 allowed a greater height, they would soon kill 

 themselves ; and, even with this precaution, 

 the feathers on the top af the head are gen- 

 erally beaten ofl. These boxes have wire on the 

 fore part, and each partition is furnished with 

 a small trough for food. Quails may be for- 

 warded in this manner, without difliculty, to 

 great distances. 



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