44 THE QUAIL. 



much resembling it in shape. Its head is black, with a mixture 

 of dusky brown ; the breast is of a pale yellow, with a reddish 

 cast, and spotted with black ; and the back is marked with lines 

 of pale yellow. 



Quails are exceedingly quarrelsome, and often have obstinate 

 contests among themselves. Quail-fighting was once a favourite 

 diversion among the Athenians ; and we cannot but lament that 

 so cruel a pastime was encouraged among so polished a people. 

 Its flesh, however, was by them esteemed unwholesome, and 

 consequently not used for food ; but they reared great numbers 

 of them for the pleasure of seeing them fight. Modern manners 

 have in this respect entirely reversed the sentiments of mankind. 

 The courage of the quail is now disregarded, while its flesh is 

 esteemed an exquisite delicacy ; and it is to be hoped, it may 

 indeed be confidently expected, that refinement of manners and 

 mental improvement will, in a short time, condemn to the same 

 fate that quail-fighting has experienced, and obliterate every 

 vestige of, amusements which are equally unimproving to the 

 mind and shocking to sensibility. 



The quail is universally known to be a bird of passage, al- 

 though, from its heaviness of flight, and scarcity of plumage in 

 proportion to its corpulency, it may seem but ill adapted for re- 

 mote migration. But, whether it removes into distant regions 

 in search of a more temperate climate, or only migrates from 

 one province to another for fresh supplies of food, has not yet 

 been ascertained. Of this, as of almost all other birds, there 

 are several varieties ; but all of them agree in general char- 

 acteristics. 



Having finished the pleasing survey of a class of the feathered 

 creation, that enlivens our forests and heaths, or embellishes the 

 farm-yard, it must be confessed that the view is delightful ; but 

 when we consider the exquisite food with which they furnish our 

 tables, our gratitude is excited towards the Author of Nature, 

 for his parental goodness and indulgent munificence. 



