THE AMERICAN QUAIL. 265 
or bask on sandy banks, and craggy hill-sides, when 
they are collected into little huddles, and are then diffi- 
cult to find. As soon as flushed, they pitch into the 
thickest neighboring covert, whether bog-meadow, briar- 
patch, cedar-brake, ravine, or rough corn-stubble, they 
ean find, their flight being wild, rapid, and impetuous, 
but rarely very long, or well sustained. As they 
unquestionably possess the mysterious power, whether 
voluntary or involuntary, of holding in their scent, fora 
short time after alighting, and are difficultly found again 
till they have run, I recommend it, as by far the better 
, way, to mark them down well, and beat for another 
bevy, until you hear them calling to each other; then 
lose no time in flushing them again, when they are sure 
to disperse, and you to have sport with them. 
Myself, I prefer setters for their pursuit, as more dash- 
ing, more enduring, and abler to face briars—others 
prefer pointers, as steadier on less work, and better able 
to fag without water. Either, well broke, are good—ill 
broke, or unbroke, worthless. Still give me setters— 
Russian or Irish specially! “Quail fly very fast, and 
strong, especially in covert, and require the whole charge 
to kill them dead and clean. At cross shots, shoot well 
ahead ; at rising shots, well above ; and at straight-away 
shots, a trifle below your birds; and an oz. } of No. 
8 early, and of No. 7, late, will fetch them in good 
style. And so good sport to you, kind reader ; for this, 
if I err not, is doomed to be a crack Quail season. 
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