348 NATURALIST'S CABINET^' 



Description. 



their curiosity, or bring some of them down to 

 attempt their relief; when they are immediately 

 inclosed. Every fanner has a tamed pigeon in 

 a cage at his door all the year round, to be ready 

 against the season of their flight. 



THE QUAIL 



IS about half the size of a partridge, whom it 

 very much resembles in shape and manners. 

 The feathers of the head are black, edged with 

 rusty brown; the breast is of a pale yellowish 

 red, spotted with black ; the feathers on the back 

 are marked with lines of a pale yellow, and the 

 legs are of a pale hue. Though in feeding, 

 forming its nest, and rearing its young, this bird 

 is similar to the partridge, (and is sometimes 

 called the dwarf partridge,) yet in other respects 

 it is very different. The quail is a bird of pas- 

 sage, aud has not a bare space between the eyes, 

 nor the figure of a horse-shoe on its breast. The 

 female's eggs are likewise less than those of the 

 partridge, and veiry different in colour. Their 

 voices are also unlike. Quails seldom, live in 

 eo vies; except when their wants unite the feeble 

 family to their mother, or some powerful cause 

 urges at on<je the whole species to assemble, and 

 traverse together the extent of the ocean, hold- 

 ing their course to the same distant landis. They 



