296 



QUAILS. 



From the earliest ages, Partridges seem, indeed, to have 

 been a favourite food, and the pursuit of them as favourite 

 an amusement. In the Scriptures, " to hunt the Partridge 

 on the mountains," is alluded to as a well-known sport ; and 

 to this day, though not exactly with the same weapon, it is 

 practised by the Arabs of Mount Lebanon. They make a 

 slight square frame of wood, of about five feet in height, over 

 which they stretch an ox-hide, perforated in three or four places. 

 The ox-hide is moved quietly, in an upright position, along 

 the ground, and the Arab, concealing himself behind it, is 

 hidden from the view of the game, which unsuspectingly allow 

 the sportsman to come within shot of them. The Arab, seeing 

 through one of the apertures, quietly protrudes the muzzle of 

 his long musket through another hole, and firing upon the 

 birds, as they feed in coveys upon the ground, kills a great 

 many of them.* 



Our limits will not allow us to dwell much longer on 

 this family of birds, which includes Quails ; but we cannot 



The Quail. 

 * FRANKLIN'S Constantinople, vol. ii. 



