THE AMERICAN QUAIL. 265 



or bask on sandy banks, and craggy hill-sides, when 

 they are collected into little huddles, and are then diffi- 

 cult to find. As soon as flushed, they pitch into the 

 thickest neighboring covert, whether bog-meadow, briar- 

 patch, cedar-brake, ravine, or rough corn-stubble, they 

 can find, their flight being wild, rapid, and impetuous, 

 but rarely very long, or well sustained. As they 

 unquestionably possess the mysterious power, whether 

 voluntary or involuntary, of holding in their scent, for a 

 short time after alighting, and are difficultly found again 

 till they have run, I recommend it, as by far the better 

 way, to mark them down well, and beat for another 

 bevy, until you hear them calling to each other ; then 

 lose no time in flushing them again, when they are sure 

 to disperse, and you to have sport with them. 



Myself, I prefer setters for their pursuit, as more dash- 

 ing, more enduring, and abler to face briars others 

 prefer pointers, as steadier on less work, and better able 

 to fag without water. Either, well broke, are good ill 

 broke, or unbroke, worthless. Still give me setters 

 Russian or Irish specially ! Quail fly very fast, and 

 strong, especially in covert, and require the whole charge 

 to kill them dead and clean. At cross shots, shoot well 

 ahead ; at rising shots, well above ; and at straight-away 

 shots, a trifle below your birds ; and an oz. J of JSTo. 

 8 early, and of !N"o. Y, late, will fetch them in good 

 fetyle. And so good sport to you, kind reader ; for this, 

 if I err not, is doomed to be a crack Quail season. 

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