GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 57 



into Europe is most interesting, and tens of thousands are caught 

 for food each migration period. The return migration is under- 

 taken during September and October. In some localities this 

 species is said to migrate by night during spring, but by day 

 during autumn ; whether this is the general order of passage 

 remains to be seen. During its sojourn with us the Quail is one 

 of our most skulking birds, far more often heard than seen, but 

 it is a persistent caller, and its very characteristic note of clik-a-lik 

 soon proclaims its whereabouts. It is much attached to certain 

 haunts, and appears to return to them each season. Its favourite 

 haunts in this country are the grain and grass fields, and rough 

 hummocky pasture lands. Here it keeps close amongst the 

 growing herbage, rarely using its wings, spending most of its 

 time in the cover, and running with great quickness from the way 

 of impending danger. When flushed it flies quickly, but at no 

 great height, with rapidly beating wings, and always seems intent 

 on dropping into the herbage at the first favourable spot. Some- 

 times it may be seen to skim on motionless wings for a con- 

 siderable distance over a hedge or a bare bit of ground, just 

 before alighting. It is nevertheless fond of frequenting bare 

 spots in the fields, where it can dust its plumage and bask in 

 the sun. During the hottest part of the day it does not move 

 much, being most active in early morning and towards evening. 

 The food of the Quail consists largely of grain and such small 

 seeds as those of the plantain and chickweed ; insects and 

 small snails are also eaten by the bird in some abundance. The 

 Quail is for the most part solitary in its habits until the time of 

 migration arrives, although the broods and their parents keep 

 close company. The birds that are stationary in our islands 

 never seem to pack, or to fraternise with other species. 



Nidiiication. — In localities where there is an excess of hens 

 the Quail is decidedly polygamous, but in others where the sexes 

 are about equally dispersed the male only pairs with one female, 

 and assists her in bringing up the brood. During the pairing 

 season the Quail is most pugnacious, each cock beating off all 

 intruders from his own particular haunt ; and about this period 

 the merry note of the male sounds incessantly and defiantly from 

 the cover. The female is late in going to nest, the eggs seldom 



