The Quail. 



In habits it is somewhat similar to the common partridge, 

 choosing either the same localities or those of the same 

 features, avoiding, however, to some extent, such higher 

 lands and wet marshy parts as the partridge sometimes 

 frequents. It is, moreover, a bird which spends its whole 

 life upon the ground, and finds its food, which is similar 

 to that of the partridge, in the same way. It differs, 

 however, from the partridge, inasmuch as it is very 

 unsociable, and exercises its pugnacious propensities at 

 every opportunity. 



The quail is generally supposed to be polygamous, but 

 this is certainly not the rule, and we are of opinion that, 

 in general, it is monogamous, but that frequently it is not. 

 The pairing occurs at different times in the spring, as the 

 birds have wintered here or not, those remaining with us 

 being from three to four weeks earlier than the larger 

 portion, which only arrive in this country about May. The 

 nest is a very unpretentious arrangement, being merely a 

 slight hollow formed naturally or by the bird's scrapings 

 in the soil, and containing such dry leaves, &c., as may 

 accumulate in it. The eggs vary considerably in numbers, 

 and although from twelve to twenty are laid, a somewhat 

 poor percentage seems to result in mature birds. The 

 female carries on the process of incubation alone, but the 

 male remains in attendance, on and off, meanwhile. This 

 occupies about twenty days, and the young run and feed 

 as soon as they leave the shell, which is towards the middle 

 of July. 



The food of the quail is very diverse, and its presence 

 is valuable to the arable farmer, as will be seen when the 



