THE HEATH-HEN — QUAIL. 225 



While the Tame-Ducks, and Drakes with their 



collars of green, 

 Reeurvate their tails, on the waters were seen. 



flate ; when distended they resemble a middle sized orange ; 

 toes naked, pectinated, pale brown. Found in Carolina, New 

 Jersey, and other parts of North America, and particularly on 

 the bushy plains of Long Island. Feeds on huckle berries, the 

 acorns of the dwarf oak and other fruits, and insects. Eggs 

 numerous ; nest on the ground 5 flesh good. In September seen 

 in flocks of two hundred or more. In the year 1791 an act was \^ 

 passed in the United States for the preservation of this bird, in 

 which a fine of two dollars was imposed on any one killing it 

 between the 1st of April and 5th of October. It is become, 

 notwithstanding this act, in America (and it has been rarely, 

 I believe, heard of elsewhere) a scarce and dear bird. 



The Coturnix, or Quail, has the body spotted with grey; 

 eye-brows white; tail feathers with a ferruginous edge and 

 crescent; seven and a half inches long: another variety much 

 larger. Inhabits the whole of the old world, but not, it is said, 

 America. It is a bold bird, and used in China for fighting, as 

 in this country are game cocks ; and at Athens, formerly, quail 

 fighting was as common as cock fighting is at the present time; 

 it was also at Rome a common diversion ; it is said, indeed, that 

 in the time of Augustus a prefect of Egypt was punished with 

 death for having served up at an entertainment one of these 

 birds which had acquired celebrity from its victories ! It is a 

 migratory bird, appearing in England the beginning of May, 

 and leaving it in October ; a few, however, are said to remain 

 throughout the winter; feeds on green wheat and in stubbles; 

 calls nearly all night; the males are taken by imitating them. 

 Eggs eight or ten whitish, laid like the partridge on the ground; 

 they are occasionally blotched with dusky ; they are said to lay 

 many more eggs than ten in Italy. Quails are seen in vast 

 flocks in various places contiguous to the Mediterranean Sea 



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