82 THE BIRDS OF OUR RAMBLES. 



widely The fields are also the haunt of the QUAIL 



debuted. {Cotumix communis], a bird very similar in 

 general appearance to the common Partridge, but 

 only half the size. It is remarkable for being a 

 bird of regular passage, coming to our islands in 

 spring to breed, and returning to Africa in 

 autumn. A few Quails, however, habitually 

 winter in the south of England, but these may 

 probably be individuals from more northern lands. 

 The Quail is rather a late migrant, arriving in May 

 and leaving us again in September and October. 

 Its migrations are by no means the least inte- 

 resting part of its life-history ; indeed, from the 

 days of the Patriarchs its journeys have always 

 attracted the attention of men, for their regularity 

 and for the enormous numbers of birds that pass 

 to and fro. Quails migrate in vast flocks across 

 the Mediterranean ; but by the time this wave 

 of migrants has reached our islands it is well-nigh 

 spent, consequently we do not witness such ex- 

 tensive flights. The shrill, merry whistle a clik- 

 a-lik, or lik-lik of the Quail from the meadow 

 grass is one of the gladsome sounds of the fields 

 in spring. It is a thorough ground bird, and in 

 habits very similar to the Partridge. Its flight is 

 quick, and the bird also runs with great speed 

 through the herbage. The scanty nest is made 

 upon the ground, usually among clover or growing 

 corn, and the eggs are laid in June. These are 

 from eight to twenty in number (the larger 

 clutches probably the production of two or more 

 hens), yellowish olive in ground colour, spotted, 

 blotched, and freckled with dark brown and olive- 

 brown. But one brood is reared, and the female 

 appears to take the entire charge of it. 



