294 



THE COMMON QUAIL. 



the field by means of a packthread stretched across the corn, having little 

 bells suspended to it by threads, so as almost to touch the ground, two 

 persons holding it, and as they advance shaking it from time to time. 

 As eoon as the prisoners are secured, the march is continued towards the 

 nets at the end of the field ; and in this manner great numbers of 

 quails, both male and female, are procured either for the house or for 

 the table. 



ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES. Besides beauty of form and plumage, the 

 song of this bird is no slight recommendation to the amateur. In the 

 breeding season, that of the male commences by repeating softly, tones 

 resembling " verra, verra" followed by the word " pieveroie" uttered 

 in a bold tone, with the neck raised, the eyes shut, and the head inclined 

 on one side. Those that repeat the last syllables ten or twelve times 

 consecutively, are the most esteemed. That of the female only consists 

 of " verra, verra" " pupu, pupu" the two last syllables being those 

 by which the male and the female attract each other's attention ; when 

 alarmed or angry their cry resembles " guillah ! " but at other times it is 

 only a murmur, resembling the purring of a cat. 



The quail never sings when left to run about in a light room, except 

 during the night, but continually when in a darkened cage. Those reared 

 from the nest begin to sing the end of December, and continue till Sep- 

 tember ; whilst those taken full grown rarely commence till the beginning 

 of May, and cease in August. 



