239 Quail. 



differs, however, from the partridge, inasmuch as it is 

 very unsociable, and exercises its pugnacious propensities 

 at every opportunity. 



The quail is generally supposed to be polygamous ; but 

 this is certainly not the rule, and, in general, it is mono- 

 gamous, but frequently is not. The pairing occurs at 

 different times in the spring, as the birds have wintered 

 here or not, those remaining with us being from three to 

 four weeks earlier than the larger portion, which only 

 arrive in this country about May. The nest is a very 

 unpretentious structure, being merely a slight hollow 

 formed naturally or by the bird's scrapings in the soil, 

 and containing such dry leaves, &c., as may accumulate in 

 it. The eggs vary considerably in numbers, and although 

 from twelve to twenty are laid, a somewhat poor per- 

 centage seems to result in mature birds. The female 

 carries on the process of incubation alone; but the male 

 remains in attendance, on and off, meanwhile. This 

 occupies about twenty days, and the young run and feed as 

 soon as they leave the shell, which is towards the middle 

 of July. 



The food of the quail is very diverse, and its presence 

 is valuable to the arable farmer, as will be seen when the 

 following list is scanned through : The seeds of the chick- 

 weeds, vetches (wild), Persicaria dock, plantain, orache, 

 rushes, and spret, the more succulent green portion of these 

 and many other plants, grain in very small quantities, 

 slugs, and ground insects of all sorts. The quail is a 

 fairly hardy bird ; indeed, considering the semi-tropical 

 parts from which it mainly comes, it is uncommonly hardy, 

 but it becomes very poor in winters when there is much 

 snow. As a bird of sport it is frequently under-rated ; but 

 those who have experience think otherwise. If one has a 

 sharp, bustling dog, quails get up quickly and well, and 

 are not an easy mark. 



