606 AVES—EUROPEAN QUAIL. 
which has a granulated appearance, and between the eye and the earisa 
naked skin of a bright scarlet, which is not very conspicuous but in old 
birds; un the breast there is a crescent of a deep chesnut color; the tail is 
short; the legs are of a greenish white, and are furnished with a small knob 
behind. ‘The bill is of a light brown. The female has no crescent on the 
breast, and her colors in general are not so distinct and bright as those of 
the male.’ There are generally from ten to fifteen in a covey; and if unmo- 
lested, they live from fifteen to seventeen years. 
This bird is found in nearly every part of Europe. The manners of the 
partridge, in most circumstances, resemble all those of poultry in general; 
but their cunning and instinct seem superior to those of the larger kinds. 
Perhaps, as they live in the very neighborhood of their enemies, they have 
more frequent occasion to put their little arts in practice, and learn, by 
habit, the means of evasion or safety. The affection of the female for her 
young is peculiarly strong and lively; she is greatly assisted in the care of 
rearing them by her mate; they lead them out in common, call them 
together, point out to them their proper food, and assist them in finding it, 
by scratching the ground with their feet. They frequently sit close by each 
other, covering their young with their wings, like the hen; in this situation 
they are not easily flushed ; but when, at length, they are compelled tc move, 
the male employs many interesting stratagems, such as fluttering along the 
ground, hanging his wings, and feigning to be wounded, in order to attract 
the pursuit of the enemy, and afford to the female an opportunity to escape 
with her infant brood. Partridges, though tamed when young, will almost 
invariably return to the wild state. 
THE EUROPEAN QUAIL! 
Is about half the size of a partridge. Its flesh is a great delicacy. The 
feathers of the head are black, edged with rusty brown; the breast is of a 
pale yellowish red, spotted with black ; the feathers on the back are marked. - 
with lines of pale yellow, and the legs are of a pale hue. 
The quail is by all known to be a bird of passage ; and yet, if we ccnsider 
its heavy manner of flying, and its dearth of plumage, with respect to its 
corpulence, we shall be surprised how a bird ‘so apparently ill qualified for 
migration should take such extensive journeys. Nothing, however, is more 
certain. ‘When we sailed from Rhodes to Alexandria,” says Bellonius, 
“about autumn, many quails, flying from the north to the south, were taken 
in our ship; and sailing at spring time the contrary way, from the south to 
the north, I observed them on their return, when many of them were taken 
in the same manner.” This account is confirmed by many others; who 
1 Perdiz coturnis, Latu. 
