Binoo. 147 



TLey then fly two by two ; continuing, when their way lies over 

 land, to go faster by night than by day ; and to fly very high, to 

 avoid being surprised or set upon by birds of prey. However, 

 it still remains a doubt whether quails take such long journeys 

 as Ik'llonius has made them perform. It is now asserted by some, 

 that the quail only migrates from one province of a country to 

 another. For instance, in England, they fly from the inlanu 

 counties, to those bordering on the sea, and continue there all 

 the winter. If frost or snow drive them out of the stubble- 

 fields or marches, they then retreat to the sea-side, shelter them- 

 selves among the weeds, and live upon what is thrown up from 

 the sea upon shore. Particularly in Essex, the time of their aji- 

 pearance upon the coasts of that country exactly coincides with 

 their disappearance from the more internal parts of the king- 

 dom ; so that what has been said of their long flights, is probably 

 not so well founded as is generally supposed. 



These birds are much less prolific than the partridge ; seldom 

 laying more than six or seven whitish eggs, marked with ragged 

 rust-coloured spots. But their ardour in courtship yields scarcely 

 to any other bird, as they are fierce and cruel at that season to 

 each other, fighting most desperately, and (a punishment they 

 richly deserve) being at that time very easily taken. Quail- 

 fighting was a favourite amusement among the Athenians : they 

 abstained from the flesh of this bird, deeming it unwholesome, 

 as supposing that it fed upon the white hellebore ; but they reared 

 great numbers of them, for the pleasure of seeing them fight j 

 and staked sums of money, as we do with regard to cocks, upon 

 the success of the combat. Fashion, however, has at present 

 changed with regard to this bird ; we take no pleasure in its 

 courage, but its flesh is considered as a very great delicacy. 



Quails are easily caught by a call : the fowler, early in the 

 morning, having spread his net, hides himself under it among the 

 corn ; he then imitates the voice of the female with his quail- 

 pipe, which the cock hearing, approaches with the utmost assi- 

 duity ; when he has got under the net, the fowler then dis- 

 covers himself, and terrifies the quail, who attempting to get 

 away, entangles himself the more in the net, and is taken. The 

 quail may thus very well serve to illustrate the old adage, that 

 every passion, carried to an inordinate excess, will at last lead to 

 ruin. 



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