QUAIL. 



COTURNIX COMMUNIS, Bonnaterre. 



Tetrao coturnix, Linn. S. N. i. p. 278 (1766). 



Coturnix communis, Bonnaterre, Encycl. Meth. i. p. 217 



(1790) ; Yarr. ed. 4, in. p. 123 ; Dresser, vii. p. 143. 

 Perdix coturnix, Naum. vi. p. 575. 

 Coturnix dactylisonans, Macg. i. p. 233. 

 Coturnix vulgaris, Hewitson, i. p. 281. 



Caille, French ; Wachtel, Germau ; Codorniz, Spanish. 



Although I am very intimately acquainted with this 

 charming little bird, in its natural state, in captivity, 

 and on the table, it is, I fear, unlikely that I can add 

 much to the knowledge already in possession of those 

 of my readers who have either carried guns on the 

 Mediterranean shores, or read up our standard works 

 on ornithology. In our own country the Quail has 

 been steadily decreasing in numbers for many years 

 past, although it cannot be considered as very rare, 

 and occasionally, as in the present year 1893, we hear 

 of unusual numbers of Quails from all parts of the 

 British Islands. This bird specially loves open country 

 and badly cultivated weed-covered lands. I know of 



