OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 63 



chestnut. This latter form is said to occur in the Canaries, Madeira and Azores, 

 whilst the typical form certainly inhabits South Africa ; a fact, bearing in mind 

 the suggested new law of geographical distribution propounded by us, which goes 

 far to prove that these differences are of no specific value whatever. As we 

 suggested in The Migration of Birds (amended edition), the Quail is an equatorial 

 species, one set of individuals of this species moving north to breed in the 

 Palsearctic region ; another set moving south to breed in South Africa ; both sets 

 returning to winter in the Intertropical realm. Eeturning north again we find 

 that the east Palsearctic Quails have also been described as distinct species of 

 climatic races, under the somewhat misleading name of Coturnix japonica, 

 seeing that they are found in Eastern Siberia and North China, as well as in 

 Japan. These individuals have no trace of black on the throat, which is uniform 

 dull brick-red. As this form is said also to occur in South Europe, it seems 

 probable that the differences are not even of subspecific value, but due to age, 

 sex or season. The Quail question is by no means yet finally cleared up. 



Habits. — The Quail is a late bird of passage to the British Islands, arriving 

 in May amongst the last of our summer visitors. The passage of this species 

 from Africa across the Mediterranean into Europe is most interesting, and tens of 

 thousands are caught each migration period for food. The return migration is 

 undertaken 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 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 resorts 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 out of the way of impending 

 danger. When flushed it flies quickly, but at no great height, with rapidly beat- 

 ing wings, and always seems intent on dropping into the herbage at the first 

 favourable spot. Sometimes it may be seen to skim on motionless wings for a 

 considerable 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 fra,ternise vdth other species. 



