AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
285 
Thy imitative art is ever waking 
To catch the varied notes that round thee ring, 
And each new manner with strange aptness taking, 
Thou teachest others how, improved, to sing. 
The softest tones the gentle cat-bird utters, 
Or the loud clamour of the noisy crow, 
The lark’s sweet glee, or what the harsh owl mutters, 
With equal truth thy magic voice can show. 
Then come — a host thyself — with no adorning 
But the plain garb that nature bids thee wear ; 
The gaudy show of weaker songsters scorning, 
Come, and with melody invest the air. 
O, ever welcome ! how the grove rejoices 
Listening thy harmony, so sweet and strong! 
Beautiful charmer ! bird of many voices ! 
Come and delight our weary souls with song ! 
THE EUROPEAN QUAIL. 
There is much diversity of opinion in regard to the 
American Partridge, or Quail. From New-Jersey north 
this bird is wholly called, and known as the Quail. In 
Pennsylvania, and all of the states south and west, it is 
called the Partridge. 
The subjoined history of the true or European Quail, 
will suffice to show, in a comparison with the history of our 
partridge, that it is a different bird in habit and character 
altogether. 
The Quail, in appearance, is so much like the par- 
tridge, as to be in some places called the dwarf par- 
tridge; and in the manners of the two species there is a 
great resemblance. They form their nests and rear their 
young nearly in the same way. They are, however, in 
many respects, very different. Quails migrate to other 
countries; they are always smaller; and have not a bare 
space between the eyes, nor the horse shoe, or crescent, 
figure on the breast. The eggs too, are less than those of 
the partridge, and very different in colour. Their voices 
are unlike. Quails seldom live in covies, except when 
their wants unite the feeble family to their mother, or 
some powerful cause urges at once the whole to assem- 
ble, and traverse together the extent of the ocean, hold- 
ing their course to the same distant lands. They are 
much less cunning than the partridge, and more easily 
ensnared, especially when young. Their disposition is 
not so gentle as that of the partridge. 
Quails are found in most parts of Great Britain, but not 
2 B 
very numerously, and they are seldom seen in the mid- 
land counties. It appears that one circumstance which 
determines their abode in that country is plenty of herb- 
age; since, in a dry spring, when grass is consequently 
scarce, few Quails are to be met with. 
The females lay ten or twelve eggs, in the incubation of 
which they are occupied three weeks. The eggs are 
whitish, but marked with ragged rust-coloured spots. 
Quails have been supposed, but without foundation, to 
breed twice in the year. 
It is said that Quails usually sleep during the day con- 
cealed in the tallest grass; lying on their sides, with their 
legs extended, in the same spot, even for hours together. 
So very indolent are they, that a dog must absolutely run 
upon them before they are sprung; and, when they are 
forced upon the wing, they seldom fly far. Quails are 
easily drawn within reach of a net, by a call, imitating 
their cry, which is done by an instrument called a quail 
pipe, which is rarely, if ever used in England, having 
been superseded by the fowling-piece. 
Quails visit England in the spring, and generally leave it 
again in the latter end of September; they are sometimes 
found later, and, if the accounts are to be depended on, 
instances are not wanting, where they have remained the 
whole year. They are supposed to winter in Africa. If 
to the circumstance of their generally sleeping in the 
day, is added that of their being seldom known to make 
their first annual appearance in the day time, it may be 
inferred that they perform their journey by night, and 
that they direct their course to those countries where 
the harvest is preparing, and thus change their abode to 
procure a subsistence. On their arrival at Alexandria, in 
Egypt, such multitudes are exposed in the markets for 
sale, that three or four may be bought for a medina, 
(less than three farthings.) Crews of merchant vessels 
have been fed upon them; and complaints have been laid 
at the consul’s office by mariners against their captains 
for giving them nothing but Quails to eat. 
With wind and weather in their favour, they have been 
known to perform a flight of fifty leagues across the Black 
Sea in the course of a night; a wonderful distance for so 
short-winged a bird. 
Such prodigious quantities of Quails have appeared on 
the western coasts of the kingdom of Naples, in the vici- 
nity of Nettuno, that a hundred thousand have, in one 
day, been caught within the space of three or four miles. 
Most of these are taken to Rome, where they are in great 
request, and are sold at high prices. Clouds of Quails 
also alight in spring along the coasts of Provence; espe- 
cially on the lands which border on the sea, and are some- 
times found so exhausted, that for a few of the first days 
