26 QUAILOLOGY - ORNITHOLOGY 



out any dark crossbars, but the long feathers of the sides and flanks with 

 large and conspicuous white shaft-stripes and otherwise variegated with 

 black, brown, and bulf. Primaries fuscous, spotted with light brown on 

 outer webs; secondaries similar, but the markings becoming bars on both 

 webs. Tail-feathers brownish-black, much varied with shaft-lines, cross-bars, 

 and edgings of buff; crissum immaculate, like the abdomen. Bill dark; 

 feet pale; iris dark brown. Length about 7.00; wing 3.75; tail 1.75; tassus 

 1.00; middle toe and claw rather more, (f) 



In taking up this foreign species we rely greatly on a foreign 

 author for data relative to its nesting, eggs and habits. Our 

 text is drawn from his work and to him all credit is due, namely, 

 J. M. Bechstein, M. D., in his "Cage and Chamber Birds," .re- 

 vised by H. G. Adams. 



The noting of the European Quail in this volume is made 

 necessary by the importation of large numbers of these birds 

 into the Eastern States, north to New Brunswick. The perma- 

 nent naturalization of it is still questionable, either climatic 

 conditions or food are unsuited to them. 



NESTS AND EGGS 



The only nest formed by this Quail, is a hole scratched in the 

 ground, and lined with a few straws or grass stalks. The female 

 does not lay her eggs, which are ten to fourteen in number, and 

 bluish white with large brown spots, till late in the year, often 

 not till July. Incubation twenty-one days. 



HABITS 



This Quail is a bird of passage, arriving in Germany in May 

 and departing about the end of September. It frequents the 

 fields of grain and especially those of autumn-sown wheat. 



Their food consists of all kinds of seeds and grain, for example, 

 wheat, millet, rape, hemp and poppy seeds. It also feeds up- 

 on green plants and insects; and is very fond of ants' eggs. 



It moults twice a year, namely in the spring and autumn. 

 The females hatch their eggs and rear the young birds, which 

 run about with their mother before they are fledged; though this 

 takes place before the autumn migration. One brood is raised 

 in a season. 



t Coues Key to North American Birds. 



