QUAILS. 209 



They are described as polygamous, and the males are partial 

 to the fray. Their habitats are cultivated fields, shrubby 

 commons, and grassy uplands ; where they live on insects, 

 seeds, and the succulent portions of herbaceous plants. 



The European or Wandering Quail is generally identified 

 with the quail of Scripture, and in the East occurs in such 

 immense flocks as to explain the circumstance that the 

 Israelites, in their wanderings through the desert, sub- 

 sisted upon them. Even now, in their proper season, they 

 are so plentiful that the Egyptian fellahs cannot consume 

 those they capture while fresh, but salt them for after-use. 



It is a graceful little bird, not much larger than the 

 lark ; in shape, and in the colouring of its plumage, re- 

 sembling the partridge. Its food consists of grain, the 

 seeds of various plants, and of insects and their larvse. 

 Its cry is peculiarly shrill and clear, like the notes of a 

 pipe. Its nest is generally placed among wheat, long 

 grass, or thick clover ; it consists of a loose heap of clover 

 stalks, straw, and dry grass, laid in a hollow of the ground. 

 The fowler catches this bird by imitating with what is 

 called a quail-pipe the low note of the female : the male 

 answers with his keen peevoiree, and is gradually drawn 

 into the snare. So Bishop Mant sings : — 



" Less likely of your aim to fail 

 If with loud call the whistling quail 

 Attract you, 'mid the bladed wheat 

 To spread the skilful snare, and cheat 

 With mimic sounds his amorous ear, 

 Intent the female's cry to hear. 

 For now the vernal warmth invites 

 From Afric's coasts their northward flights; 

 And prompts to skim on nightly breeze 

 SiciUan or Biscayan seas." 

 (710) 14 



