THE BLACK-THROATED QUAIL. 
221 
mon in many parts of the East. Quails are very pugnacious; 
and some species are caught and caged^ for the express 
purpose of gratifying the sight of persons who hke to see 
birds and beasts pitted against each other. In China and 
other Eastern countries these pretty Httle birds are often so 
employed. According to Burnes, nothing can exceed the 
passion of the Affghans for this kind of sport. Almost 
every boy he saw in the streets of Peshaw^ur had a quail in 
his hand ; and he tells us^ that crowds assemble in all parts 
of the city to witness their game battles. 
Mr. Jerdont^ in speaking of the Black-throated Three- 
toed Quail [Oftygis jpiignax) of India^ tells us that it is fre- 
quently caught and caged by the Mussulmans of Southern 
India. These people take advantage of a habit of the bird 
to snare it. This quail has a peculiarly loud purring call, 
by which the birds attract each other. Having taken a fe- 
male bird, the Indians put it in a small cage, which they 
place on the ground in the jungle, and conceal it partially 
with leaves. ^^The cage has a small plank in front of the 
bars, over which an arched cover is made to fall by the 
snapping of some thread, placed between the bars. The 
bird wdthin begins its loud purring, and any of its kind in 
* Travels into Bokhara, vol. i. f Madras Journal, vol. xii. p. 3. 
