several districts in England and Ireland where thirty or 
forty years ago the Quail was comparatively abundant, 
but is now virtually extinct as a breeding species. I 
attribute this disappearance in a considerable measure 
to improvement im cleaning the land for tillage, and 
also to enclosure ; but the main cause of decrease 
throughout Northern Europe is without doubt the 
capture of thousands of Quails on the shores of the 
Mediterranean during their vernal migration. To give 
some idea of the extent of the destruction of Quails 
caused by netting in these districts, I quote from 
Yarrell to the effect that 160,000 have been taken on 
the little island of Capri, im the Bay of Naples, in a 
single season; and in May 1874 I was informed by one 
of the officers of a steamer then in the harbour of 
Messina that they had 12,000 Quails on board alive, 
all consigned for the London markets. ‘These birds are 
conveyed, very closely packed, in long flat cages, with 
only just room for the prisoners to get to the feeding- 
troughs. It is certainly remarkable what a small 
percentage of deaths occur on the voyage and sub- 
sequent journey across France by railroad. The birds 
when first caught are thin, and fatten very quickly on 
millet and other grain; but, m my opinion, a cage- 
fattened spring Quail at its best is not to be compared 
for delicacy of flavour to those killed in August and 
September in their native haunts, and I consider that 
the sale of this species alive or dead should be prohibited 
throughout Europe between May Ist and August 20th. 
I have frequently observed notices of the occurrence of 
Quails during the winter months in this country, in the 
