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and a few remain to breed there, some also remaining throughout the winter. The spring 

 passage commences in March ; but the main body pass about the middle of April. In the 

 autumn they repass late in August or early in September. 



In Southern Germany the Quail is also common during the summer season. The late 

 Mr. E. Seidensacher informed me that numbers breed in Styria, and that sometimes vast swarms 

 were seen near Cilli in the autumn ; and, according to Dr. A. Fritsch, it is very common in 

 Bohemia in some seasons, arriving in May and leaving in September. The official game-lists 

 show that about ten thousand are killed there annually. It is found in the countries bordering 

 the Danube ; and Messrs. Elwes and Buckley state (Ibis, 1870, p. 328) that it arrives in Turkey 

 in April in immense flocks, and disperses all over the country to breed. Numbers are killed on 

 the shores of the Bosphorus during the two seasons of passage. 



In Southern Russia it is extremely abundant from April to October, especially in Abasia 

 and Mingrelia, and is also numerous in Asia Minor, and, according to Dr. Kriiper, winters near 

 Smyrna. Dr. Tristram says (Ibis, 1868, p. 215) that in Palestine a few pairs were "found here 

 and there throughout the winter ; but in March they returned from the south by myriads in a 

 single night, and remained in all the open plains, marshes, and corn-fields." 



It is found numerous in North-east Africa. Captain Shelley says (B. of Egypt, p. 223) 

 that " a few Quail remain in Egypt throughout the year. The migratory birds arrive there in 

 abundance towards the beginning of March and again in November, the greater number -only 

 passing through the country on their way to and from Europe ; but still many remain to breed. 

 When these travellers have arrived in the country the fact soon becomes known from their 

 peculiar call, which may be constantly heard from among the crops, especially in the early 

 morning and towards sunset. These are the best times for shooting Quail ; for during the heat 

 of the day they retire to the thicker crops, and are very unwilling to rise." Von Heuglin, who 

 says that it is found less numerous in Egypt on the spring passage, but in vast numbers in 

 August, September, and October, adds that it does not appear to winter in Abyssinia, Kordofan, 

 or Sennaar, but probably passes south of the equator. A few remain to breed in Central and 

 Lower Egypt, nesting in April. In North-west Africa the Quail is common, and would be more 

 so in Algeria, Mr. Gurney, jun., says, were they not so much sought after. The shooting-season 

 is opened from the 20th of March to the 15th of April, principally for their benefit ; and large 

 numbers are annually killed. He remarks that, though on passage, they were generally paired. 

 Dr. Taczanowski also writes (J. f. O. 1870, p. 51) that in the Province of Constantine " the Quail 

 is sometimes found throughout the winter on the coast, in the Tell, and in the tamarind-thickets. 

 They arrive in February in great numbers from the interior of Africa, and visit the fields round 

 the oases, where they can also be seen about the end of March in large flocks. If they were 

 everywhere so much sought after as in Biskra, they would have long ago entirely disappeared in 

 Europe. During the time of their migration in autumn they live on the sea-coast and avoid 

 the date-region." Colonel Irby writes (I. c), " Favier states that the Quail is very abundant on 

 passage on the Moorish side of the Straits of Gibraltar, many remaining to breed, the majority 

 crossing over to Europe during March and April, returning in October and November." 



It occurs down the African coast to the Cape of Good Hope, as also in the Azores, Madeira, 

 and the Canaries. Mr. Godman writes (Ibis, 1866, p. 99), in the Azores, it is " plentiful in the 



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