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Quail was caught on the 24th September, at the Karatag lake (13,500 feet), and kept alive for 

 several days. It was the only Quail actually observed during the journey; but though not 

 flushed or bagged, they were heard calling in all the fields in Yarkand." It is found in South- 

 eastern Siberia. Dr. Radde met with it throughout the whole of those portions of that country 

 visited by him ; while, according to Dr. Dybowski, it is scarce in Dauria, and only met with 

 during the seasons of passage, but the natives informed him that it occasionally breeds there, 

 and is more frequently met with in the valleys of the Irkut. In Mongolia it is met with on 

 passage, but is said to be rather scarce, though in China it is, Mr. Swinhoe writes (Ibis, 1861, 

 p. 341), " very common, even as late as October, in which month immense flocks of them dropped 

 in the neighbourhood of the Taku forts, evidently birds from more northerly parts bound south." 

 He says that in the island of Formosa it is resident, but more numerous in the winter. In Japan, 

 as in China, it appears to be common and generally distributed. 



In general habits the Quail differs considerably from the Partridge, and appears more 

 especially to be far less gregarious than that bird ; for, instead of being found in coveys, it is 

 generally flushed singly, though frequently many are found in the same patch of herbage. 

 Only when the young birds are under the charge of the mother do they keep together, the male 

 bird being, however, usually absent ; and very soon after they are able to shift for themselves 

 they scatter, and do not afterwards reunite. During passage, however, they collect in vast flocks, 

 and in some parts of Europe, especially on the shores of the Mediterranean, they arrive in such 

 quantities as to make the chase very remunerative. Numbers are also netted ; and as they are 

 easily kept alive, they are sent long distances to market fatted for sale. Large numbers are 

 imported to London from the Continent in flat large cases covered with cloth on the top, pro- 

 vided with a feeding-trough in front ; and the birds appear to travel well, and even thrive, in 

 these uncomfortable-looking cages. It is stated that when migrating the Quail flies at a great 

 altitude ; and in places where they settle down they are said to drop almost perpendicularly from 

 the air, and to be in a very tired and exhausted state. They migrate during the night, especially 

 when it is moonlight, and also early in the morning or late in the evening, resting during the 

 day-time ; and as they travel northward some are left here and there on the way to take up their 

 breeding-quarters. The flight of the Quail is swift, whirring, and direct, like that of the Part- 

 ridge ; but it rarely flies very far, but drops again into some convenient cover, and is averse to take 

 wing unless it cannot avoid doing so. It runs easily and quickly, being strong on its legs, and, 

 with the help of its wings, can jump to a great height in running along through tangled grass. 

 When flushed it seems to rise unwillingly, and not until almost trodden on, and flies quite low, 

 not above about five feet from the ground. Speaking of the habits of the Quail in Egypt, 

 Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., says (Eamb. of a Natur. p. 183) : — " Although they are gregarious in 

 the strictest sense of the word, they never fly in a flock, but each, regardless of its neighbour, 

 goes its own course, straight and quick, about a yard from the ground. They almost invariably 

 get up at your feet, and seldom fly more than 400 yards. I never saw any on passage by day ; 

 and it is said that, unlike the Storks, they only migrate by night. As Captain Shelley remarks, 

 they are very unwilling to rise during the heat of the day. Morning and evening are the best 

 times to shoot them, and ripe barley, or strips of lentils just ready to cut, the best places in 

 which to look for them. It is wiser not to go into barley-fields, &c, where the business of 



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