Quail, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230
Quail are small, plump terrestrial birds. They are seed eaters but will also take insects and similar small prey. They nest on the ground and are capable of short, rapid bursts of flight. They are a common species of game, although migrating common quail are known to eat some poisonous seeds with no apparent ill effects but store the poison in their body fat, poisoning people who subsequently eat these birds (Lewisa et al 1987).
The medieval bestiary suggests that quail travels at set times, when the summer is over they migrate across the sea in flocks. It is also suggested they eat poisonous seeds and are said to be the only creature to have seizures (Barber 2008).
Transcription
Translation
tigias vocant. eo quod vise fuerint primo; in
ortigia insula. Et dicitur coturnix quasi cotaur-
nix. Hee adveniendi habent tempora. Nam esta-
te depulsa; maria transeunt. Ortigometra dicitur
que gregem ducit. Hanc terre appropinquantem
accipiter videns rapit. Ac propterea cura est univer-
sis ducem sollicitare generis externi; pro qua ca-
veant prima discrimina. Cibos gratissimos semi-
na venenorum habent. Quam ob causam. veteres; eas ves-
ci interdixerunt. Solum enim hoc animal sicut et
homo; caducum patitur morbum. Coturnix
nobis ignota est; que olim filiis israel; nota fuit.
Quails are called by the sound of their voice, which the Greeks call Ortigias, because they were first seen in the island of Ortigia. And the quail is called like a quail[?]. Hee[?] they have come times. For you have been cast down; they cross the seas Ortigometra is said to lead the herd. A hawk, seeing him approaching the land, seizes him. And therefore it is the care of all to solicit the leader of a foreign race; for which they should beware of the first crises. Their favorite foods are poisonous seeds. For this reason, the ancients forbade eating them. For only this animal, like man, suffers a transient disease. The quail is unknown to us; which was once known to the children of Israel.