&VNGUINE FRANCOLIN. -Jiftd^tnis cnientus. 



lilack down tlie centre ; and the breast and upper part of tlie abdomen are liglit green, 

 streaked with blood-red and white. The lower part of the abdomen is brown-grey. The 

 upper tail-coverts are blood-red, with a long narrow streak of yellow down the centre of 

 each feather ; and the tail is white at the tip, and each feather is broadly crossed with 

 blood-red at the base. The bill is black at the tip and red at the base,* and the legs and 

 feet are deep pinky red. The female is a bird of very sober plumage, being reddish brown, 

 lighter on the head and neck, and freckled with black on the back. The under surface is 

 rather redder than the upper. In size the Sanguine Francolin about equals an ordinary 

 fowl. 



The odd, short-legged, round-bodied, quick-footed Quail is closely allied to the 

 partridge in form and many of its habits. Of these birds there are many species ; but as 

 all are much alike, there is no need of many examples. 



The common Quail is found spread over the greater part of Europe, and portions of 

 Asia and Africa, coming to our island in the summer, though not in very great numbers. 

 In England the bird is not sufficiently plentiful to be of any commercial value ; but in 

 Italy and some of the warmer lands which the Quails traverse during their periodical 

 migrations, the inhabitants look forward to the arrival of the Quail with the greatest 

 anxiety. In those countries they are shot, snared, and netted by thousands ; and it is 

 chiefly from the foreign markets that pur game shops are supplied with these birds. 

 When fat, the flesh of the Quail is very delicious ; and the most approved way of cooking 

 the bird is to envelop it in a very thin slice of bacon, tie it up in a large vine-leaf, and 

 then roast it. 



In their migrations the Quails fly by night, a peculiarity which has been noted in 

 the Scriptural record of the Exodus, where it is mentioned, that " at even the Quails came 

 up and covered the camp." Mr. Yarrell suggests, that the object of this nocturnal 

 journeying may be to save the defenceless birds from the attacks of the numerous birds of 

 prey, which would probably assail them were they to travel during the daytime. There are,_ 

 however, larger and more powerful birds, which need no such safeguard, and yet are in 

 the habit of travelling by night, as well as the Quail. 



