THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



centres to the feathers ; 

 under parts buff-white, with 

 some dark streaks ; white 

 on outer tail feathers. 



The nest is in woodland, 

 on the ground or in a bank 

 or tuft of grass, constructed 

 of grass, stems, and moss, 

 lined with finer material. 

 The eggs (four to six) vary 

 in colour bluish, greenish, 

 pinkish, or brownish white, 

 mottled with purplish brown 

 or grey. It begins to lay in 

 May. 



Quail. A young reader 

 will be fortunate to see the 

 nest of this bird, which, once 

 so common, is diminishing 

 in numbers every year. It 

 is a summer visitor (though 

 some remain through the 

 winter), chiefly to the South 

 of England and East of Ire- 

 land. Although it can fly 

 but feebly, it is the only 

 member of our native game 

 birds that migrates, appear- 

 ing among us about the 

 second week of May, and 

 departing about October. 

 There is no likelihood of its increase, unfortunately, owing to the tastes of 

 gourmets, for whose sake these beautiful little birds are netted in thousands 

 as they migrate over Egypt and Italy, and, packed alive in cages by hundreds 

 of thousands, are consigned to all parts of Europe for the appetites of the 

 luxurious ! 



Recognized by its small size, general sandy colour striped with pale buff 

 (there is a long buff stripe over the middle of the crown, like a parting), it is 

 found on rough pastures and cultivated land, where the cock's challenge, 

 " Click-a-lick, click-a-lick " or, as country folk have named it, " Wet-my-lip, 

 wet-my-lip" may be heard by the fortunate, and the hen's gentle reply, 

 " Phew-phew." The nest, a scrape among crops or rough grass, lined with 

 grass or leaves, contains seven to twelve eggs, about the size of a Blackbird's, 

 yellowish, with dark brown patches and blotches. 



Tree Pipit. 



