368 _, QUAIL. Class IL 



partridge, seldom laying more than six or seven 

 whitish eggs, marked with ragged rust colored 

 spots : yet the late Ozven Holland, Esq. of Con- 

 wy, once found a nest with twelve eggs, eleven 

 of which were hatched : they are very easily 

 taken, and may be enticed any where by a call. 

 They are birds of great spirit ; insomuch 

 that quail fighting among the Athenians was as 

 great an entertainment as cock fighting is in 

 this country : it is at this time a fashionable 

 diversion in China, and large sums are betted 

 there on the event.* The bodies of these 

 birds are extremely hot; the Chinese on that 

 account hold them in their hands in cold wea- 

 ther in order to warm themselves. f Chaude 

 comme une Caille, is a common proverb. 

 The antients never eat this bird, supposing 

 them to have been unwholesome, as they were 

 said to feed on /ie//eZ>ore. ... - ^ . r 



Quails arrive in Italy the latter end of April, 

 and remigrate in August and September ; some 

 remain during the winter. 



The editor has been favored by a friend 

 with the following observations on the migra- 

 tion of the quail and other birds in the eastern 

 regions. 



* Bell's Travels, i. 371. f Osheck's Voyage, i. 26g. 



