PLATE XCVII. 
The Quail^ 
In its habits and nature, refembles all others of the poultry kind, except that it is a bird of 
paflage. 
When we confider the heavy manner of its flying, and its dearth of plumage, in proportion to 
its corpulence, it appears furprifing that a bird, fo apparently ill qualified for migration, fliould 
venture to take extenfive journies : but, however extraordinary, it is certainly a bird of paflage. 
Bellonius aflures us, that when he went from Rhodes to Alexandria, about autumn, feveral 
Quails, flying from the north to the fouth, were taken in his fliip ; and failing at fpring time the 
contrary way, from fouth to north, he obferved them on their return, when many of them were 
taken in the fame manner. 
This account is confirmed by the teflimony of many others, who aflert, that they choofe a north 
wind for thefe adventures ; the fouth being very unfavourable, as it retards their flight by moiften- 
ing their plumage. But though it is univerfally admitted that the Ouail is a bird of paflage, it ftill 
remains a doubt whether they take fuch long journies as Bellonius has made them perform. Some 
have lately aflerted that it only migrates from one province of a country to another. 
In England, for inflance, it flies from the inland counties to thofe bordering on the fea, and re- 
mains there all the winter. If they are driven out of the ftubble-fields or marlhes, by frofl; or fnow, 
they retreat to the fea-fide, take flielter among the weeds, and live on what the fea cafts upon 
the fhore. The time of their appearance upon the coafts of Eflfex exaftly coincides with their dif- 
appearance from the more internal parts of the kingdom. 
Mr. Pennant fays, " They are birds of paflage ; fome entirely quitting our ifland, and others 
fliifting their quarters." It is therefore probable, that the account which Bellonius has given us, 
may be ftriftly true ; and the airertions which others have made, that they fometimes only migrate 
from one province of a country to another, may equally deferve to be credited. 
The Quail is not fo prolific as the Partridge, feldom laying more than fix or feven eggs, which 
are whitifli, marked with irregular rufti-coloured fpots. This bird is eafily taken, and may be 
enticed any where by a call. 
Quail-fighting, among the Athenians, was a favourite amufement. They abftained from the flefli 
of this bird, deeming it unwholefome, as it was fuppofed to feed on hellebore ; but they flaked 
fums of money on them, as we do with regard to game-cocks, upon the fuccefs of the combat. At 
prefent, however, the courage of this bird is difregarded, but its flefli is confidered as a very great 
delicacy. 
No. XXXIII. 
Uu 
