68 
TETRAONID.E. 
period, and of these, two were seen together in the month of January 
or February. 
When treating of the ptarmigan, 1 alluded to the singular fact 
of its presence on the mountain tops of Islay and Jura, and of 
its absence from those even of superior altitude in the north of 
Ireland, though of similar mineralogical structure, as in Done- 
gal, &c. The quail, how^ever, presents an instance of the opposite 
character, by its extreme rarity in Islay and the other islands, and 
all the parts of the mainland of Scotland nearest to Ireland, 
although common here. Around Port Ballantrae, on the northern 
coast of Antrim (that part of the latter country nearest to Islay), 
I was particularly struck with this difference, on hearing quails 
daily, during the month of June 1842, though grain is but very 
partially cultivated there. The whole aspect, too, of the mari- 
time portions of the county of Antrim, as to cultivation, &c. is 
very similar to that of the opposite parts of Scotland. 
Montagu, writing in 1802, says, with respect to England, probably in 
reference to the south, where he resided, that these birds are “ in much 
less quantity than formerly.” Mr. Selby, in 1825, remarks, that they 
now visit us in much fewer numbers than they formerly did, and their 
appearance in the midland and northern counties of England has of 
late years been a rare occurrence.” With reference to Swansea, in Wales, 
we are told, that, the “ Quail is rarely seen hereabouts ; but throughout 
one summer, about thirty years ago, there was a large bevy on the 
Townhill, and another smaller one in Gower.”* 
That quails were common in this island nearly three centuries 
ago, is indicated in the following extract from ^ A Brife Descrip- 
tion of Ireland made in the yeere 1589, by Robert Payne d — 
^ There be great store of wild swannes, cranes, phesantes, par- 
triges, heathcocks, plouers, greene and gray, curlewes, woodcockes, 
rayles, quailes, and all other fowdes much more pleutifull than in 
England. You may buy a dosen of quailes for iii.d., a dosen of 
woodcockes for iiii.d., and all other fowles ratablic.^’W 
* Dillwyn. Fauna and Flora of Swansea, p. 7 (1848). 
t Pieprinted in Tracts relating to Ireland, published for the Irish Archselogical 
Society: Dublin, 1841. 
