40 THE QUAIL. 



imitating their cry, which is not unlike the words whit, whit, 

 whit : this is done with an instrument called a quail pipe. 



They are found in some parts of Great Britain, but no where 

 in any great quantity. They are supposed to winter in Africa, 

 and return early in the spring. If to the circumstance of their 

 generally sleeping in the day, is added that of their being sel- 

 dom known to make their first annual appearance in the day 

 time, it may be inferred that they perform their journey by night, 

 and that they direct their course to those countries where the 

 harvest is preparing, and thus change their abode to obtain a 

 subsistence. On their arrival at Alexandria, such multitudes 

 are exposed in the markets for sale, that three or four may be 

 bought for a medina (less than three farthings). Crews of mer- 

 chant vessels have been fed upon them ; and complaints have 

 been laid at the consul's office by mariners against their cap- 

 tains, for giving them nothing but quails to eat. 



With wind and weather in their favour, they have been 

 known to perform a flight of fifty leagues across the Black Sea 

 in the course of a night ; a wonderful distance for so short- 

 winged a bird. 



Such prodigious quantities have appeared on the western 

 coasts of the kingdom of Naples, in the vicinity of Nettuno, 

 that a hundred thousand have been caught within the space of 

 three or four miles. Most of these are taken to Rome, where 

 they are in great request, and are sold at extremely high prices. 

 Clouds of quails also alight, in spring, along the coasts of Pro- 

 vence ; especially in the lands belonging to the Bishop of Fre- 

 jus, which border on the sea. Here they are sometimes found 

 so exhausted, that for a few of the first days they may be caught 



with the hand In some parts of the south of Russia they 



abound so greatly, that at the time of their migration they are 

 caught by thousands, and sent in casks to Moscow and Peters- 

 burgh. 



