Quail
| Latin name: | Coturnix |
| Other names: | Caille, Choturnix, Conturnicibus, Corturnix, Coturnice, Ortigas, Ortygas, Ortygometra, Wachtela |
| Category: | Bird |
Quails cannot be eaten, because they feed on poisonous seeds
General Attributes
Quails migrate over the sea at the end of summer. The Greeks call the quail ortygas because they were first found on the island of Ortygia (Delos). The leader of the quail flock is ortygometra, or "mother of quails." Quails seek a leader from another species of bird, because when the ortygometra is near the ground, it is attacked by the hawk. Quails should not be eaten because they feed on poisonous seeds.
Allegory/Moral
The quail mother attacked by the hawk as she nears the earth represents the Christian who will be attacked by the devil if he approaches worldly things.
Uses Magical, Medical, Alchemical and Culinary
Quails feed on poisonous seeds, so the ancients forbade anyone to eat them.
