392 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



age length is about 1^ inch, and the average greatest width 

 1 inch. 



The number of eggs usually laid in a nest is from ten to 

 fifteen, although when two females lay in the same nest, 

 which is sometimes the case, as many as twenty or even 

 more eggs are found. During the time of incubation the 

 male bird remains in the vicinity of his mate, and occasion- 

 ally takes her place on the nest. I have often seen the cock 

 Quail thus engaged and believe it is a common occurrence. 



The period of incubation has been variously stated by dif- 

 ferent writers, some placing it at three weeks, some less, and 

 some even at four weeks. I have heard of a number of in- 

 stances where the eggs of the Quail have been set under ban- 

 tam hens, and in every case they hatched in three weeks. 

 In one instance the fresh-laid eggs of the Quail were put 

 with a bantam's eggs ; in three weeks the Quails and ban- 

 tam chicks were hatched in one brood. 



In seasons of very early springs I have no doubt that two 

 broods are hatched, for it is not uncommon to find in the 

 autumn coveys in which full-grown chicks are associating 

 with some but half-matured. 



The Quail, unless much pursued by hunters, is a very fa- 

 miliar bird. I have often seen small coveys running about 

 with the farmers' chickens, and I believe it is a common 

 habit for them, in sections where they are not molested, 

 to share the rations of the domestic fowls about the grain- 

 ricks and barn-yards. 



The thorough domestication of the Quail is so practicable 

 that it is strange it is not more generally followed. A gen- 

 tleman of my acquaintance has repeatedly reared large num- 

 bers in confinement, and I have heard of other instances. 

 In the case I refer to, two pairs of the birds were placed in 

 a large attic in a dwelling-house, the floor of which had been 

 covered with sand and loam, over which some bunches of 

 brush and herbage had been scattered. The Quails were 

 watered and fed like so many domestic fowls, and in the 



