Looks like you had a quail of a time writing this piece (ugh, sorry that was a terrible use of the word). But thank you for the quail trivia, I had no idea that the bird had so many references in literature and beyond.
I love this! I think it may have been the first of yours I read - because I remember commenting that I rather adore Troilus and Cressida... although nothing like as much as Antony & C...
I went down my own rabbit hole after reading your piece, and couldn't help but look-up quail fighting. Various articles indicate that in Afghanistan, quail-fighting (Bodana janagi; in Kandahar, Karak Bazi) is a big-money sport, each fight only two- to three-minutes long; earnings are often quite high (up to $5k) and teams of gamblers will place bets. Apparently, the sport is several thousands of years old, having been "played" by Roman emperors, and though the Taliban banned it, it's found its way back to places like Kabul. Personally, I couldn't stand to watch any type of bird-fighting, especially when it involves aggressive birds, such as battling male quail.
In Pashtun culture, by the way, quail are symbols of good luck and fortune.
I loved this and very glad to have caught up with it now. I love quails, even the word is beautiful, and had no idea about them singing! The painting by Mitsuoko is exquisite.
This was especially fascinating this evening Jeffrey! I have just returned from checking sheep, closing chickens, the last chores of my day during this long lit season. As I returned to the house, on the grassy lane at the back of the barn was a family of quail, walking in a line, an evening stroll, a delight!
Thank you Jeffrey for the repeat, I missed it first time around. I love to watch quail, especially the families with chicks, streaming behind in a line. I can see why they are painted so much, the plump shape and the little feather hat on their head that bobs along. Very dear beings.
What an ingenious and surprising piece. Who’d have guessed it could work so beautifully? My contribution: I once grilled half a dozen quail and do not recommend eating these bony little things in any preparation. Better to contemplate quail in art and poetry.
Thanks for reposting this, Jeffrey. It’s definitely worth reading more than once or twice. So much to savor, and not in the literal sense. (I’ve eaten quail eggs, but the bird itself has never been on the menu.) All I remember about our former Veep Dan Quayle is that he once publicly corrected a schoolchild for spelling “potato” without an e at the end. This may have been due to the fact that he spelled his own surname in an unconventional way.
Thank you, Mary! And you've just provided an intersting response to Ann's comment about Mr Quayle. I guess we've all had our problems wth spelling at some time or other!
Neither had I, but my (English) husband has an uncanny ability to think of something different. When I said you had written everything one could want to know about the quail, that was his immediate response.
Noting that 'Quail' could be slang for prostitute, methinks that that final speech by Antony has a lot of innuendo going on there, with 'cocks' and 'quails'....
Well doesn’t this just want to make a person assemble their covey? 🥰
😊 Indeed!
Looks like you had a quail of a time writing this piece (ugh, sorry that was a terrible use of the word). But thank you for the quail trivia, I had no idea that the bird had so many references in literature and beyond.
😅 Thank you, Sarah!
I love this! I think it may have been the first of yours I read - because I remember commenting that I rather adore Troilus and Cressida... although nothing like as much as Antony & C...
The way Cleo uses 'quail' - so beautiful.
Thank you, Laura! I remember your comment. Perhaps I need to give T&C another chance…
Fascinating and enlightening.
I went down my own rabbit hole after reading your piece, and couldn't help but look-up quail fighting. Various articles indicate that in Afghanistan, quail-fighting (Bodana janagi; in Kandahar, Karak Bazi) is a big-money sport, each fight only two- to three-minutes long; earnings are often quite high (up to $5k) and teams of gamblers will place bets. Apparently, the sport is several thousands of years old, having been "played" by Roman emperors, and though the Taliban banned it, it's found its way back to places like Kabul. Personally, I couldn't stand to watch any type of bird-fighting, especially when it involves aggressive birds, such as battling male quail.
In Pashtun culture, by the way, quail are symbols of good luck and fortune.
Thank you for that further research, Maureen! And I'm interested to hear about the bird's meaning in Pashtun culture.
I don't believe I've ever eaten quail, and now I'd feel bad about it. This was a fun piece.
Delightful miscellany, Jeffrey!
Thank you so much!
I loved this and very glad to have caught up with it now. I love quails, even the word is beautiful, and had no idea about them singing! The painting by Mitsuoko is exquisite.
Thank you, Deborah. And I’m glad you like the Mitsuoko painting. And yes, “quail” has a lovely ring to it, doesn’t it?
This was especially fascinating this evening Jeffrey! I have just returned from checking sheep, closing chickens, the last chores of my day during this long lit season. As I returned to the house, on the grassy lane at the back of the barn was a family of quail, walking in a line, an evening stroll, a delight!
Ah, the beauty of happenstance! Thank you for sharing that scene, Susie, which I can picture very clearly.
You are your own flock, a covey, or a bevy of intellect.
That is so kind of you to say, Mary!
A quail of a tale ;)
But seriously, some very interesting tidbits, as usual. Thanks Jeffrey :)
Thank you, Michael!
Thank you Jeffrey for the repeat, I missed it first time around. I love to watch quail, especially the families with chicks, streaming behind in a line. I can see why they are painted so much, the plump shape and the little feather hat on their head that bobs along. Very dear beings.
Thank you, Leslie! I enjoyed your charming description of quail very much.
What an ingenious and surprising piece. Who’d have guessed it could work so beautifully? My contribution: I once grilled half a dozen quail and do not recommend eating these bony little things in any preparation. Better to contemplate quail in art and poetry.
Thank you, Rona! And I'm with you on sticking to quail in art and poetry.
Thanks for reposting this, Jeffrey. It’s definitely worth reading more than once or twice. So much to savor, and not in the literal sense. (I’ve eaten quail eggs, but the bird itself has never been on the menu.) All I remember about our former Veep Dan Quayle is that he once publicly corrected a schoolchild for spelling “potato” without an e at the end. This may have been due to the fact that he spelled his own surname in an unconventional way.
Thank you, Mary! And you've just provided an intersting response to Ann's comment about Mr Quayle. I guess we've all had our problems wth spelling at some time or other!
🤣
Such a fun reading! I didn’t expect I’d like it 😊
Thank you, Yi! I didn't expect that I'd have so much fun writing it, either!
Thanks, Jeffery, for so much information I never knew I needed.
My husband just asked me if you included anything on the ex Vice President? Just a thought.
Thank you, Ann. I don't think I'd thought about Mr Quayle for some time!
Neither had I, but my (English) husband has an uncanny ability to think of something different. When I said you had written everything one could want to know about the quail, that was his immediate response.
😊 Thank you, Ann! In a world driven by "productivity" and "outputs", I hope there is still space for trivia and whimsy.
Some utterly beautiful anecdotes here, thank you!
Noting that 'Quail' could be slang for prostitute, methinks that that final speech by Antony has a lot of innuendo going on there, with 'cocks' and 'quails'....