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that " chaud comme line caille" is in every one's 

 mouth *. - 



Now in the fir ft place their migration during the 

 night, is contrary to Belon's account, which M. de 

 BufFon fo much relies upon, who exprefly fays, that 

 the birds were caught in the day time "j~. 



In the next place, I apprehend that '* chaud comme 

 " une caille" alludes to the very remarkable fa- 

 lacioufnefs of this bird, and not to the conftant heat 

 of its body. 



Monf. de Buffo n then obferves, that if quails are 

 kept in a cage, they are remarkably impatient of 

 confinement in the autumn and fpring, whence 

 he infers that they then want to migrate | j he alfo adds, 

 in the fame period, that this uneafinefs begins an hour 

 before the fun rifes, and that it continues all the night.. 



This great naturalift does not (fate this obfervation 

 as having been made by himfelf, and it feerns upon 

 the face, of it to be a very extraordinary one. 



*' All birds indeed are warmer by four degrees than other ani- 

 mals. See fome ingenious thermometrical experiments by Mr» 

 Martin of Aberdeen, Edinb. 1 77 1, i2mo. 



f Upon looking a fecond time into Belon, he does not indeed. 

 ftate whether it was in the day or the night; but if it had hap* 

 pened in the latter, this traveller and ornithologift could not well 

 have omitted fuch-a circumftance. Befides this, he mentions in 

 what direction the quails were flying, which he could not. have 

 difcerned in the night. 



% It may alfo. arife from this bird's being of- fo quarrelfome a 

 difpofuion,. and confequently mofr likely to fight with its fellow 

 prifoners when they are all in greateft vigour after moulting, and 

 on the return of the fpring. 



M. de BufFon allows that they will fight for a grain of millet, 

 and adds, " car parmi les animaux il taut un fujet reel pour fa 

 " battre." M. de BufFon hath never been in a cockpit. 



No 



