QUAIL (OF. quaine, Fr. coillc, from ML. quaquila, from MDutch quakcle, (packet, quail, from quicken, Dutch &waken, to quack; onoma topoetic in origin). Originally and strictly, a small game bird of the Old World of the genus Coturnix, nearly allied to partridges. but having a more slender bill, a shorter tail, longer wings, no spur, and no red space above the eye. Quails never perch on trees, but always alight on the ground and far excel partridges in their power of flight. They are among the smallest of gallinace ous birds. The common quail (('oturnix cotur nix, or communis) is found in most parts of the Old World, and in the Mediterranean region, where it is most familiar, is migratory. Species of quail are found in different parts of Asia, al though no other is so abundant as the common quail, and none migrates as it does. The rain quail (roturnix Coromandelica) is numerous in India. The Chinese quail (Coturnix erralphato rig), only about four inches long, is abundant in China, and is there kept for figthting, the males. being very pugnacious. It is also said to be used fur another singular purpose—the warming of the hands of its owner.
In America the word quail is used for all those small birds which have no feathers on the tarsus. In the United States only one spe cies occurs east of the Mississippi. the well-known bob-white ('partridge' of the Southern States, 'quail' of the North), Co/inus Virginianus, which occurs as far north as southern Maine and Minnesota. It is about 10 inches long. The upper parts are reddish-brown variegated with black, buff, and gray: the forehead and band on breast, black; the cheeks, throat, breast, and belly white, the latter barred with black; the sides chestnut, marked with black and white. The female has the forehead, cheeks, and throat huff. Bob-white is one of our most popular game birds and is in great demand for the table. It feeds on
seeds. berries, and other vegetable matter. The nest is on the ground. and the eggs, In to 18 in number, are pure white. Its loud clear notes, imitated in its name. are the three-syllabled bob-white; accented sharply on the last; but the first is not always plainly heard. It is one of the most characteristic and pleasing sounds of Amer ican rural scenes, for the bird is everywhere numerous, under protective laws. In the Western and Southwestern States arc found several rela tives (Odontophorime), five of which (hirer markedly from Co/itius, not only in their colora tion. but in the presence of a noticeable crest. In the California quail ( Lophortyx Californiea) and Gambers quail (Lophortyx c; mbc1i) the crest consists of six feathers, erect and re curved ; in the mountain or painted quail (Oreor tyx the crest is made of two long. ing feather; in the blue quail (('allipepla squa mate) the crest is composed of numerous rather short, soft feathers, and the same is true of the re markable Massena 'fool' quail of Arizona (Carto nyx Jlonte:uma). All of these birds are exception ally handsome, the prevailing tints being slaty blue, olive-brown, chestnut or tawny, black and white. The head, especially in the male, is no ticeably marked with black or brown and white. The mountain quail is the largest (a foot long). while the Massena quail is the smallest (only nine inches long). The eggs of Lophortyx and Callipepla are remarkable for being speckled. Consult authorities cited under PARTRIDGE; and see Plate of PARTRIDGES, ETC. See Colored Plate of GAME BIRDS, accompanying article GROUSE; and of EGGS OF GAME AND WATER BIRDS.