COMMON QUAIL. 



363 



the wing-coveits are barred with yellowish white. 

 The young during the first year exactly resemble 

 the females ; after the second moult they assume 

 their proper appearance. This species varies in 

 being of a larger size than usual, with the colours 

 more vivid, and the cheeks and throat dusky brown - 

 it also occurs perfectly white, and in all the inter- 

 mediate stages from the common plumage : some- 

 times it will become entirely deep brown or dusky; 

 this effect is produced by long confinement, and 

 being fed on liempseed. 



Quails are found throughout nearly the whole of 

 Europe, as far north as Lapland ; they are also 

 abundant in Asia, as far as Siberia, but not in the 

 extreme northern parts : they likewise occur at 

 various periods in Africa, at the Cape of Good 

 Hope. In China they are extremely abundant, 

 and like C. excalfactoria, are used by the inha-- 

 bitants to warm their hands. 



They are found in most parts of Great Britain, 

 but nowhere in any great quantity, and about 

 August or September they migrate to the south- 

 ward. They have appeared in such prodigious 

 quantities on the western coasts of the kingdom of 

 Naples, in the vicinity of Nettuno, during their 

 migration, that a hundred thousand have been 

 caught in one day within the space of four or five 

 miles, which are usually sold for three or four livres 

 per dozen, to dealers, who convey them to Rome, 

 where they are in great request, and resold for 

 high prices. Clouds of Quails also alight in spring 

 along the coasts of Provence ; here they are some- 



