ORDER GALLING. 26? 



The Common Quail {Tetrao Coturnix), is celebrated for 

 the voyages which it performs at stated periods. It also diiFers 

 much in its habits from the partridges, which are sedentary 

 birds ; its plumage is rather varied. The quails are isolated 

 birds, and it is rare to find two of them in one place, except 

 when they assemble for the purposes of migration. They 

 are polygamous, and the male pays no attention to the covey. 

 The female lays on the ground, most frequently in com 

 fields, from eight to fourteen eggs, of a not very deep green, 

 with brown or blackish spots, and very small points. 



As soon as the young quails can provide for themselves, 

 the female abaiidons them, and they soon separate to live in 

 an isolated state until the period of their migration. At this 

 epoch they unite and fly, in numerous bands, most usually by 

 moonlight, towards the south of Europe, cross the Mediter- 

 ranean, and proceed to Africa, where they are extended as far 

 as the Cape of Good Hope. 



In the commencement of autumn, a great quantity of them 

 are taken in the island of Capri, at the entrance of the Gulf 

 of Naples. Formerly this constituted the revenue of the 

 bishop of the island, who was thence facetiously styled Bishop 

 of the Quails. 



During this period of migration the islands and rocks of 

 the Levant are so covered with quails, that they are salted 

 and preserved for the winter's provision. It is said that they 

 alight at Malta only when the wind is north-west, which is 

 against them in their course to Rovina ; and on their return 

 they always follow the south-east wind, which hinders them 

 from landing on the Barbary coast. They are sometimes so 

 fatigued in crossing the sea, that they drop upon the 

 decks of vessels, and suifer themselves to be taken by the 

 hand. 



The CoLiNs, or American Quails and Partridges, ap- 

 proach the true partridges in the force of the bill, which is 



