s6 8 QUAIL. Class II. 



partridge, seldom laying more than six or seven 

 whitish eggs, marked with ragged rust colored 

 spots : yet the late Owen Holland, Esq. of Con- 

 xvy, once found a nest with twelve eggs, eleven 

 of which were hatched : they are very easily 

 taken, and may be enticed any where by a call. 



They are birds of great spirit ; insomuch 

 that quail fighting among the Athenians was as 

 great an entertainment as cock fighting is in 

 this country : it is at this time a fashionable 

 diversion in China, and large sums are betted 

 there on the event.* The bodies of these 

 birds are extremely hot ; the Chinese on that 

 account hold them in their hands in cold wea- 

 ther in order to warm themselves. j" Chaude 

 comme tine Caille, is a common proverb. 

 The antients never eat this bird, supposing 

 them to have been unwholesome, as they were 

 said to feed on hellebore. 



Quails arrive in Italy the latter end of April, 

 and remigrate in August and September ; some 

 remain during the winter. 



The editor has been favored by a friend 

 with the following observations on the migra- 

 tion of the quail and other birds in the eastern 

 regions. 



* Belts Travels, i. 371. + Osleck's Voyage, i. 2QQ. 



