COMMON QUAIL. 463 



migratory, and winter in Turkestan and China as far south as Formosa, 

 but a few remain during the winter. 



The greater number of Quails obtained east of Irkutsk are slightly- 

 smaller than European examples, but this small race is also found on the 

 Azores. The alleged differences of colour appear to be only stages of 

 plumage. 



The Quails that visit this country every year seldom make their appear^ 

 ance until May among the last of our summer visitors. In the south of 

 Europe these birds pass in enormous numbers during March and April, 

 during which months a vast stream of these birds is constantly flowing 

 from Africa, the great winter home of this species. The return migration 

 takes place in September and October. It has been observed that on 

 Malta the Quail arrives during the night in spring, but migrates during 

 the daytime in autumn. Vast numbers of these little travellers are netted 

 during their annual journeys to and from the north, for their flesh is a 

 highly and justly esteemed article of food. 



The Quail is a much rarer bird in this country than the Partridge, and 

 from its skulking habits it is very liable to be overlooked by those orni- 

 thologists who do not pay special attention to the notes of birds. The 

 sandy plains of Central Germany, wherever they are highly farmed, or the 

 dry steppes of Southern Europe, especially in the cultivated parts, are its 

 favourite haunts. In many parts of this country, especially on heavy 

 land, it prefers dry patches of unreclaimed ground ; but in countries like 

 Algeria, where every drop of moisture and every blade of grass is soon 

 dried up by the burning sun, it not unfrequently selects the vicinity of 

 marshes where such are to be found. 



The familiar call of the Quail, which is said to be confined to the male 

 only, is a clear flute-like note, or succession of three notes, which, though 

 not very loud, can nevertheless be heard at a considerable distance. This 

 note may be best represented by the syllables clik-lik-lih, the accent some- 

 times being on the first and sometimes on the second syllable. The female 

 replies by a double note, low and unmusical, which appears to be common 

 to both sexes. The alarm-note, when the bird is suddenly surprised, is 

 very similar to that of the Partridge. 



Like the Land-Rail it scarcely ever takes wing unless compelled to do 

 so by dogs ; but although it so rarely gives the ornithologist an opportunity 

 of seeing it, its presence is instantly detected by the peculiarity of its note, 

 which, especially during the breeding-season, is almost constantly repeated, 

 and is as familiar to every ploughboy, in localities where it is found, as 

 tEe crake of the Land-Rail. The note is generally heard in corn-fields and 

 in meadows. The Quail is very susceptible to cold and damp, and conse- 

 quently does not thrive on clay soils. 



The Quail is par excellence a ground-bird, and never perches in trees. 



