376 MIGRATIONS. [CHAP, x, 



mean, "Mate! Mate! come hither! come hither!" 

 This dactyl-phrase might easily be made the ground- 

 work and leading idea of a new set of " Quail Waltzes," 

 or " Valses des Cailles," containing less necessary dis- 

 cord and fewer noises than many modern compositions 

 favour our ears with. We recommend to this class of 

 composers the perusal of a really curious and clever 

 book, " The Music of Nature," by Mr. Gardiner of Lei- 

 cester, which will furnish them with many valuable 

 hints. The dactyl-song is strictly a call note, which 

 adds to its interest. We had kept Quails in our dining- 

 room for several months without hearing it, because 

 they lived in company ; but, on parting a couple, and 

 placing their cages in separate apartments, we were 

 soon favoured with a specimen of their vocal accom- 

 plishments. 



The wonderful migrations of the Quail will occur to 

 every tyro. Their numbers are astounding. Millions 

 must quit their native home, never to return. They 

 are imported, for the table, by thousands into England 

 alone, besides the bevies that find their way hither not 

 in cages, and at their own travelling charges. The 

 numbers slaughtered at every halting-place during this 

 passage all the way from Africa must be quite incal- 

 culable. The marvel is partly explained by Colonel 

 Montagu*: " Dr. Latham remarks that he has known 

 two instances where twenty eggs have been found in the 

 nest of a Quail. This prolificacy is the occasion of the 

 immense flocks that are annually noticed on their 

 passage, spring and autumn, in various parts of the 

 south of Europe." In Great Britain their numbers are 



* Dictionary, Ronnie's Edition, p. 395. 



