61. ~ Quail ~

Quails, sometimes called bobwhites, do not sleep in trees. They live in the woods, and scratch for beetles and grasshoppers. They all sleep together on the ground. At night they crouch together in a circle with their heads facing out and their tails toward the inside. If a fox should sneak up on them while they are sleeping, all of them suddenly explode into the air with a great whirr of wings. Each quail goes off in a different direction. By doing this, most of them can usually escape unharmed. When the danger is over, they reunite and go back to sleep. They have a short tail, and longer wings. They have a wonderful coloured outfit of feathers. Their nest is in the ground, where they will lay seven to twelve eggs. The quail live in groups named bevies. The males have black stripes, while the female has sandy stripes down each side of their head. It has a cheery bob-bob whistle. Quail will have more than one mate during the breeding season. The bobwhites call out once for food, twice for parental purposes, six times for mating, and eleven times to warn of enemies. They shake and scratch their heads, a funny thing to witness. They are lunch for the fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk and the certain species of hawk. Native Americans consider them sacred and spiritual. They also respect them because of their amazing speed on the ground.

Medicine:

Quial medicine teaches us to use good taste. Quail teaches us to explode into action, this is not the time to shake and scratch your head in wonder. Know that your own family will cover your back without question when quail appears to you. Remember to do the same for them. What 'name' do you want people to know you as? What 'name' has changed your life the most? These are some of the questions of quail medicine.