QUAIL. 
COTURNIX COMMUNIS, Bonnaterre. 
Tetrao coturnix, Linn. S. N.1. p. 278 (1766). 
Coturnix communis, Bonnaterre, Encycl. Méth. 1. p. 217 
(1790) ; Yarr. ed. 4, 11. p. 123; Dresser, vu. p. 143. 
Ree 
Perdix coturnix, Naum. vi. p. 575. 
Coturnix dactylisonans, Macq. 1. p. 233. 
Coturnix vulgaris, Hewitson, 1. p. 284. 
Caille, French; Wachtel, German; Codorniz, Spanish. 
Although I am very intimately acquainted with this 
charming little bird, in its natural state, in captivity, 
and on the table, it is, I fear, unlikely that I can add 
much to the knowledge already in possession of those 
of my readers who have either carried guns on the 
Mediterranean shores, or read up our standard works 
on ornithology. In our own country the Quail has 
been steadily decreasing in numbers for many years 
past, although it cannot be considered as very rare, 
and occasionally, as in the present year 1893, we hear 
of unusual numbers of Quails from all parts of the 
British Islands. ‘This bird specially loves open country 
and badly cultivated weed-covered lands. I know of 
