Collection of Bhas from the Mediterranean. 185 



observed arriving at Port Said in the early morning; if this 

 was correct, then in mode of flight, speed, and general 

 appearance they much resemble the Corn-Crake. Oa 

 8th November, just after sunset, a Water-Rail flew into the 

 officers' smoking-room, through the open scuttle. 



In Crete a Water-Rail was flushed from a marsh on 

 4th February, but was not observed later. 



In Sicily at the Pantana di Lentini, the species was found 

 plentiful both in winter and summer. On 8th June two 

 nests containing three and nine fresh eggs respectively were 

 found, a curiously late date if the birds are resident, unless 

 two broods are reared in the season. 



COTURNIX COTURNIX (L.). 



The Quail was found as a migrant from east to west of 

 the Mediterranean, and was especially abundant from Malta 

 eastwards. In many places a few were found in mid-winter, 

 and also breeding in summer, probably the same iudividuals. 



In Egypt the species was very abundant on migration and a 

 few were also found in mid-winter. Quails were already "in" 

 on 23rd August, rather earlier than most years, but did not 

 appear in full force until September. The passage was at 

 its maximum height during the first fortnight of September, 

 and birds were still plentiful up to the end of that month, 

 but it was not until after September that the passage 

 positively ceased. They always seemed to arrive singlj-, 

 and made the land flying low at a speed which I timed 

 carefully to be about fifty miles an hour, but they were never 

 seen like this when the ship was more than fifteen miles to 

 the north of the coast, shewing presumably that the birds 

 only come down to the surface of the water when near the 

 land. The Quail-catching industry (a very flourishing one) 

 has often been described, it is therefore unnecessary to say 

 more than that the three principal methods in autumn are : 

 first and principally, the flight-net ; secondly, the snares ; 

 thirdly, the casting-net ; and thousands of live Quails thus 

 caught ax'e shipped away to Europe in wicker cages of six to 

 ten stories, literally packed till tlie birds can hardly turn 



