THE QUAILS. 379 



but still more from the wholesale slaughter of them which takes place 

 in certain districts at the time of migration. The bishop of the 

 island of Capri, situated in the Bay of Naples, receives an annual 

 revenue of 40,000 francs (£1,600 sterling) from the duty he has 

 imposed upon Quails taken on the island, to be sold in the markets 

 of Naples. From this he has received the name of the " Bishop of 

 the Quails." 



On the shores of the Bosphorus, in the Morea, Crimea, and in 

 some of the islands of the Grecian Archipelago, Quails sometimes 

 arrive in such dense masses that, according to a popular saying, it is 

 only necessary "to stoop to pick them up." On arrival they fall ex- 

 hausted upon the ground, and the sky may almost be said to be raini?ig 

 birds. The inhabitants, who have been watching for them for many 

 days, now net them in great numbers, and, having salted them, and 

 packed them in barrels, export them to different countries. 



Quails travel principally in the evening and during the night. 

 They ascend to a tolerable height, never flying against the wind ; but, 

 on the contrary, scud before it, and are thus carried across the Medi- 

 terranean. The south winds bring them to us, and the north winds 

 carry them back to Africa. If encountered by an adverse gale during 

 their passage across the ocean they have not power to resist it, but 

 fall into the waves. Thousands of them have been found drowned 

 around the precipitous shores of the island of Malta ; their strength 

 had failed them, and, from being unable to gain sufficient elevation, 

 they found a watery grave. Occasionally they take shelter on the 

 decks of passing vessels. 



Quails frequent plains covered with cereals, or pasture lands. 

 They delight in rolling in the dust, and are never known to perch. 

 Their food consists of seeds and insects. They are not sociable 

 birds, for the sexes do not approach one another except in the 

 breeding season, and parent and young separate as soon as the 

 mother's care is no longer necessary for the protection of the brood. 

 This time soon arrives, as the little things are of rapid growth. The 

 females lay twice during the year, once in Europe and once in Africa, 

 and each time produce from ten to fourteen eggs. 



The Quail is a very swift runner, and employs this mode of loco- 

 motion to escape pursuit, unless the danger is imminent. If flushed, 

 it flies in a straight line, keeping close to the ground. On re -alighting 

 it shows itself a thorough master in the art of throwing dogs off their 

 scent. 



When killed at the proper time — that is to say, when it has rested 

 after its fatiguing journey, and recovered condition — it is covered 



