NATURE AND SPORT IN BRITAIN 



a far more valuable asset than a dead one. From the 

 South of Europe they are despatched alive north, east, 

 and west to the various markets that await them. Those 

 that escape the nets scatter over the face of Europe and 

 proceed to mate, nest, and rear their young. In the 

 autumn migration, after a steady course of feeding in 

 their European abiding-places, they are fat and in high 

 condition. A naturally fattened autumn bird is far 

 more delicious than a quail that has been stuffed at 

 a poulterer's in the low, unwholesome modern cages 

 with which we are familiar. It is to be noted that 

 in Capri during the year 1899 quails were more plenti- 

 ful than for many seasons past. That this increase in 

 the migration is likely to be maintained is more than 

 doubtful. The decrease in the number of quails annually 

 captured in Europe has not escaped notice. The French 

 Government have now prohibited the sale, importation, 

 and transport of live quails in and through their terri- 

 tory, and it would be well if other European countries, 

 our own included, could be induced to follow this 

 excellent example. Many years ago it was computed 

 by the naturalist Yarrell, after due inquiry, that 3,000 

 dozen of quails were purchased from foreign dealers 

 by the London poulterers in a single season. It would 

 be interesting to know how many quails are annually 

 disposed of in London now. Probably the 36,000 of 

 Yarrell's time would be easily passed. 



The quail makes her nest very much as does the 

 partridge, and lays six or seven eggs. The young 

 develop early the fighting propensity for which these 

 birds are famous. The sharp note of the male bird 

 is of three syllables, and in some parts of Ireland the 

 local name for quail, "wet my lip," is manifestly 

 adapted from the bird's well-known call. From their 

 pugnacious and aggressive disposition, quails have been 



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