284 
TETRAONID^E. 
It A SORES. 
TETRA ON1DJE. 
QUAIL. 
COTURNIX VULGARIS. 
PLATE LXXII. 
The Quail is a rare bird in the north of England, a 
pair or two only occurring occasionally during the breed¬ 
ing-season ; they are then, however, not likely to be dis¬ 
turbed, being concealed amongst the corn and long grass, 
and are probably more numerous than is supposed. They 
lay their eggs upon the ground, in meadows and corn¬ 
fields, having first collected together a small quantity of 
dry grass; these vary much in number, being from six to 
fourteen, though most commonly about ten; they differ 
also greatly in colour and markings, as the plate will 
shew, there being many more equally striking varieties. 
The second figure is the egg most characteristic of the 
species. 
The Quail must be very abundant in France; I have 
seen many of them in the fields when passing through the 
country by railway. 
