THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
migration are rather to be sought for in the countries from which it origi- 
nates than in those to which it is directed.”* 
Speculating on the causes likely to account for the noticeable decrease 
of quail in Norfolk, Stevenson suggested that it might be due to the cultiva- 
tion of what was formerly rough ground, and that such local changes, 
the commencement of which was contemporaneous with the earliest 
records of the diminution of quails in this country, may have had no little 
influence in rendering them so scarce as summer residents. ‘‘At the same 
time,” he adds, ‘‘it is quite possible that the numbers annually visiting 
our shores from the continent may have also diminished considerably 
of late years; and that, too, from causes which European ornithologists 
would be better able to explain than ourselves.” It is curious that in this 
expression of opinion Stevenson missed the true interpretation of the 
decrease. There can be no doubt of the correctness of Mr Ussher’s view 
when he states that the cause must be looked for in the country from which 
the birds come, rather than in that which they are expected to visit. And, 
sure enough, the explanation is forthcoming. It is briefly this. The annual 
northward migration in spring, when the birds quit their winter quarters 
in thousands, and cross the Mediterranean into Europe, would result, 
if they were unmolested, in large numbers becoming scattered all over 
Europe, including the British Islands, where they would breed and rear 
their broods in the proportion of eight or ten young ones to every pair; 
in this way providing excellent sport for shooters of every nationality. 
But unfortunately they are met all along the Mediterranean coast by 
the opposing flight nets of those who make a living by netting them in 
hundreds— nay, in thousands — ^for the market. The result is that the 
vast majority of the migrating birds never reach us, while those that 
manage to escape the nets are too few in number to populate the countries 
they contrive to reach. It is in this way, it seems to me, that the notable 
decrease of quail in this country, and elsewhere in Europe, is to be 
explained. 
From a consideration of the foregoing remarks, it will be apparent 
that ‘‘ a day’s quail shooting ” is not to be had in the British Islands, 
and a sportsman desirous of bagging more than two or three couple in 
the course of a day’s partridge shooting in September must turn his 
attention to foreign countries in pursuit of them. 
As to the best countries to visit for quail shooting, it may be said that 
*Us8her and Warren, The Birds of Ireland (1900), p. 235. 
206 
