WHERE TO BE FOUND. 
55 
find in Ireland their most prolific fields of labour ; in that 
country the bird seems to be a permanent resident to a 
much greater extent than it does with us domineering 
Saxons.' Again, to quote Craven, ^ The English shooter 
lights upon Quails by chance among the Partridges in 
September ; but the fresh amateur of the trigger falls in 
with them all alone — by themselves " among the potatoes 
in October.' Formerly the Isle of Thanet, in Kent, was 
celebrated as abounding in Quails, where, a writer in the 
Neiv Sporting Magazine says, they were to be met with at all 
seasons. So famous was this locality for this kind of sport, 
that people fond of it resorted thither from all parts. Lat- 
terly, our authority tells us, their numbers have consider- 
ably fallen off ; but still the sportsman, in the beginning of 
September, may kill two or three brace a day. He further 
says that, * Along the banks of the Thames below Purfleet, 
several farmers and sportsmen have assured us that, about 
the beginning of November, a time at which the departure 
of the main body has taken place, a small number of Quails 
make their appearance, and continue during the winter, 
always a short distance from the river's edge. They are 
evidently the young birds of the second bevy, who, for 
some reason, seek that particular situation after the migra- 
tion of the rest of their species.' 
Quails, although they are said not to ^ pack ' imless for 
migration, and from some local causes, are by no means 
such solitary birds as Snipes and Woodcocks : if the shooter 
sees one, he may be sure there are others not far off. They, 
like nearly all other shy, wild creatures, are retiring before 
the advance of cultivation, and the day will probably come 
when a Quail will be as rare in England as a Bustard. 
Let us conclude this chapter with a query and a rhyme : 
* Is it true,' as has been asserted, * that a Quail that has 
been once enticed into a net by the call-pipe, will never 
again be tempted to listen to the call of the pijoer, let him 
pipe as long as he may ? ' Let us ask another question : 
How many Quails that have listened to the voice of the 
charmer, and become entangled in the fatal meshes, have 
escaped, and been in a position either to regard or disregard 
the call that lures to destruction ? And now for a rliyme. 
