PARTRIDGE— Q UAIL. 
In Letter xiv. to Barrington he notices the common 
habit of the old birds feigning lameness to divert attention 
from their young brood. 
In Hawker's time the bird was always fairly plentiful 
on his estate; he obtained 7,035 between 1802 and 1853. 
Of the New Forest Gilpin says ^ that it " is sometimes 
found in the forest ; but it is chiefly when she is hunted by 
men and dogs from her favourite haunts, being an inhabi- 
tant of the cultivated parts rather than of the wild scenes 
of the forest." 
Throughout the county, since the introduction of driving 
them for shooting, they have increased enormously — owing 
to strict preservation — more so than in any county in 
England. On Lord Ashburton's estate, near Alresford, 
the greatest number of partridges ever killed in one day 
have been shot by this means. 
Genu s — Cotumix. 
199. Cotumix communis. Quail. 
A rather scarce summer visitor to all districts in the 
county, occasionally occurring in winter. 
In the Isle of Wight it is rare. 
Since Gilbert White wrote ^ — " Quails crowd to our 
southern coast, and are often killed in numbers by people 
that go on purpose" — they have greatly diminished in 
numbers. 
In the manor of Selborne he says — "There are 
* "Forest Scenery." 1S34. 
^ Letter xiii. to Pennant. Selborne. January 22nd, 1768. 
U 
